India for early conclusion of Doha round

Gurgaon (Haryana), Jan 17 (UNI) Calling for early conclusion of Doha round of negotiations, India today warned that its failure would weaken the role of World Trade Organisation as the anchor of global trading system.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said India will show flexibility during the ongoing negotiations provided the outcome reflected "a clear balance between market opening and the development needs of majority of (WTO) members." The larger responsibility to achieve such an outcome rested with large developed countries, he added.

Speaking at the Partnership Summit here, he said no country would gain if there was no Doha round agreement. At the same time, he said the Doha negotiations presented a historical opportunity to WTO members to remove "distortions and structural flaws in agricultural trade and to take forward liberalisation of trade in non-agricultural products and services." UNI SAA PBB RN1820