G-20 trade ministers may meet ahead of WTO talks

Ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, trade ministers of G-20 countries are expected to meet today to review the progress of talks on liberalising global trade through the Doha pact, an official said.

Ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, trade ministers of G-20 countries are expected to meet on Wednesday to review the progress of talks on liberalising global trade through the Doha pact, an official said on Tuesday.

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Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma will be attending the three-day 'Eighth Ministerial Conference' of World Trade Organisation (WTO), beginning from December 15.

The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the 153-member multi-lateral organisation, which meets at least every two years.

The trade ministers of BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - and SAARC are also expected to deliberate on the delayed Doha Round of talks, the official said.

"Before the plenary, we will meet various developing nation members both as a group and bilaterally to coordinate positions of developing countries," Sharma said after reaching Geneva, the WTO headquarter.

The Doha Round of talks, which began in 2001, have missed several deadlines due to differences on the demand by the developed countries on the level of market opening in the developing nations. There are also discords on protection for farmers in the rich world.

G-33 is a group of developing countries that coordinate on trade and economic issues.