AIFB opposed to 2 drafts of market access in developing countries

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed serious concern over the recent developments at the WTO talks regarding granting of agriculture and Non-agricultural Market Access (NAMA).

AIFB general secretary Debabrata Biswas in a letter to the Prime Minister said, ''It is now clear that the rigid stand of the US on the contentious issue of farm subsidies is the real issue for the current deadlock.'' The US demands more market access in India and other developing countries for dumping their highly subsidised agricultural products at the cost of security of livelihood of our farmers and economy.

The letter pointed out that in the new drafts, the flexibilities provided to the developing countries to keep sensitive industries out of the tariff reduction commitments, as agreed in the Doha mandate have been totally violated and more flexibilities have been earmarked for the developed countries. The NAMA draft does not reflect the interest of India.

In view of these conditions, the AIFB has urged the government not to sign such a discriminatory agreement, rather a thorough overhauling of the entire NAMA drafts should be recommended, the letter added.

UNI BKS BDP HT2034