India, EU discuss ways to break impasse on WTO talks

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) India and the European Union today discussed ways to resolve the impasse in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks over the stumbling block of farm subsidies with New Delhi reiterating that it would not negotiate on the agriculture issues.

"Indian agriculture is not commerce but subsistence. We can negotiate on commerce but not subsistence," the Minister told newspersons after his meeting with a high-level European Union (EU) delegation led by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Reiterating India's firmness on its stand -- articulated at the Doha talks in July last -- refusing market access to developed countries due to trade-distorting subsidies given to their domestic farm sector, he said India's intention was "not to protect markets but to protect farmers' lives and their subsistence".

Today's talks revolved around breaking the stalemate at the WTO with both sides expressing interest in resuming negotiations by holding preparatory meetings here.

The WTO talks are stalled over the reluctance of the United States to offer deeper cuts in farm subsidies. The US is insisting that it will review its position on reducing farm subsidies only if developing countries like India and Brazil offer increased market access to industrial goods.

Conceding that the negotiations were "doing well but could do much better," Mr Mandelson announced that further meeting of a high-level trade delegation from Brussels was slated for December 14-15.

The meetings would prove building blocks for resumption of the ambitious WTO process.

Both sides were agreed on the need for resumption of talks as well as for the negotiations to take off.

He said the technical negotiations would begin different from ministerial engagement and foresaw "landing zones for eventual agreements".

On the state of the present Doha talks, Mr Mandelson said they were watching whether key players make commitments. Saying that discussions were more useful when held in private, he said they were seeking clarity from negotiating partners such as the United States, whose stance on farm subsidies were pivotal to the Doha talks.

Mr Kamal Nath noted great similarities between the economies of India and the European Union with new synergies thrown up for partnerships.

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