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Nath willing to negotiate commerce not livelihood security

Published on Sat, Jul 26, 2008 at 13:05 | Source : CNBC-TV18

Updated at Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 09:54

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Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said there are more meetings and intensive engagement which shows there may be a breakthrough in WTO talks.

"I am willing to negotiate commerce. I am not willing to negotiate livelihood security, or small and infant industry. Our manufacturing industry, auto, auto components and textiles are all very infant and we cannot negotiate these. They have led to employment generation and these issues are at the heart of the development round. These are the points I made and they will respect these and we will be able to protect our industry."

Meanwhile, CNBC-TV18 has learnt from sources that India and Japan have opposed new proposals by WTO DG to break the deadlock. At least 10 countries are opposing new proposals by the WTO DG. Sources added that developed nations will cut the top-band farm import duties by 70%. The WTO DG proposes that the US cut trade, distorting farm subsidies by 70%.

According to sources, the WTO DG also proposes that EU cut farm distorting farm subsidies by 80% and has made new proposals to break the deadlock. The new proposals by WTO DG to end the deadlock has met with resistance. India, Japan and 8 other countries have opposed the WTO DG's new proposals.

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18 Vivian Fernandes 's with Kamal Nath :

Q: Could there be a breakthrough in the WTO talks?

A: The very fact that there are more meetings and intensive engagement shows that we are heading towards a breakthrough; I am not saying that we are.

Q: Have you got what you wanted?

A; Well, what we wanted is intact and it will remain like that.

Q: Could you dissect the anatomy of the talks for us? For example-you could not compromise on livelihood issues. You are here to talk commerce but you cannot compromise on the food security aspect, livelihood security of our farmers. Have you achieved that?

A: Well, that's intact. I made it very clear in these talks that I am willing to negotiate commerce. I am not willing to negotiate livelihood security, or small and infant industry. We must remember that our manufacturing industry, auto, auto components and textiles are all very infant and we cannot negotiate these. They have led to employment generation and these issues are at the heart of the development round. These are the points I made and they will respect these and we will be able to protect our industry.