Gaps persist as India pushes for development agenda at WTO

Differences among the developed world and the emerging markets continued at the seventh WTO Ministerial, as India pleaded for brining back "development" on the agenda of the world trade body and expedite conclusion of the Doha Trade talks by 2010.

Differences among the developed world and the emerging markets continued at the seventh WTO Ministerial, as India pleaded for brining back "development" on the agenda of the world trade body and expedite conclusion of the Doha Trade talks by 2010.

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Although the Ministerial is not meant for negotiations, there is no narrowing of gaps in the positions being maintained by the emerging economies and the rich nations at the plenary, which began here yesterday.

While Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma pitched for "placing development firmly back on the agenda," US Trade Representative Ron Kirk made a case for "meaningful market opening..., particularly in the world's fastest growing economies".

Neither side appeared to be agreeing to provide more concessions on opening of their markets for agriculture and industrial goods.

European Trade Commission Catherine Ashton regretted that "we are progressing too slowly to meet the 2010 objective that is the cause for concern."

Trade ministers from 153 WTO member-nations, meeting for the first time after the breakout of the global financial crisis, are reviewing the working of the trade referee.