India has expressed its “deep disappointment” over the US’ refusal to agree on the public stockholding issue at the on-going World Trade Organisation (WTO) 11th Ministerial Conference (MC 11) in Buenos Aires.
“This has posed a severe threat to a successful conclusion of the conference as there was a Ministerial mandate for a permanent solution by MC 11,” according to a statement circulated by India on Tuesday evening which alludes to the US but does not name it.
“potential to damage”
The statement, however, also says that India continues to participate in the efforts to draft a credible Ministerial Declaration. “We are firm that any Ministerial Declaration must reaffirm the principles of the multilateral trading system, the completion of the Doha Development Agenda, the centrality of development and the availability of special and differential treatment and other concerns of developing countries,” the statement added.
On the US position on public stockholding, India said that it was surprised and deeply disappointed that despite an overwhelming majority of members reiterating it, a major member country had reneged on a commitment made two years ago to deliver a solution of critical importance for addressing hunger in some of the poorest countries of the world. “This has the potential to irreversibly damage the credibility of the WTO as a Ministerial Decision of all countries present in Nairobi has not been honoured,” it said.
Leading up to the Ministerial and at the Ministerial itself, India’s coalition partners have remained steadfast in their support not only for a permanent solution on public stockholding but also on other issues of interest to developing countries. “India was supported by over a 100 WTO member countries on all agriculture issues including the proposal to set the direction of agriculture reforms by first eliminating the most trade-distorting form of subsidies used mainly by the rich developed countries,” it said.
The 53-member African Group as well as a large number of developing countries have rallied around and firmly supported India in opposing rules on e-commerce and bringing in new issues such as investment facilitation and MSMEs into the WTO’s agenda, the statement added.
The MC 11, which began on December 10, is scheduled to conclude on December 13