Govt should ask US to reduce farmers' subsidy: BJP

With talks on Doha Round starting this week, BJP said India should pressurise developed nations to reduce subsidy to farmers before asking it to lower tariff.

With talks on Doha Round starting this week, BJP on Sunday said India should pressurise developed nations to reduce subsidy to farmers before asking it to lower tariff.

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"The developed countries, including the US, grant huge subsidies on farm products to protect the interests of their farmers. Unless there is a significant reduction in subsidy by the developed countries, why should we consider lowering of (our) tariff," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi.

There were no indications that the developed countries will reduce the subsidy, Prasad said, adding crores of Indians are engaged in agriculture and the government should safeguard their interests.

Officials will resume talks on Doha Round on September 14 in Geneva for global trade agreements. It was deadlocked since July 2008 but the chief trade ministers have agreed for talks during last week's Delhi meeting.

Raising other related concerns, he said in the services sector India is interested in the establishment of back-up office, and transfer of its population, in which direction there has been no significant progress so far.

"BJP urges the government to take serious steps to carry forward negotiations on these and other issues of our interests," Prasad said.