Schwab presses India to act for poor in Doha round

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) India must act in the best interest of the world's poorer countries in the Doha round of trade talks in its role as a leader for the developing world, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said today.

It was the first meeting for Schwab and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath since trade talks broke down last week among Indian, US, European Union and Brazilian officials in Potsdam, Germany.

The discord at Potsdam disappointed those who hoped the four major trading powers could push the round closer to a deal. The officials spoke at a meeting of the US-India Business Council in Washington.

Reuters SRS VP0242