WTO agreement might be difficult to support

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) The government today said that it may be difficult to support the draft World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement, terming the new proposals 'complicated'.

The draft proposal on agriculture was circulated on May 19 which included for the first time a formula for cutting farm subsidies and tariffs as part of wider negotiations.

''If you are serious about the Doha Round, make it simple and don't complicate things,'' Commerce Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here today.

He said the the discussions are going on with the like-minded countries on future WTO strategy.

The Secretary asserted the government's stand on protecting the interest of the country's farmer's against the richer countries's farmers who get huge subsidies, and other issues.

Giving the reference of the Farm Bill in the US, he said the eligibility criteria for subsidy is with maximum income of 5,00,000 dollars per year.

''They are fighting for the prosperity of their farmers and I'm fighting for the livelihood of my farmers,'' Mr Pillai said.

UNI SBA SR AS1933