GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 43

ANSWERED ON:23.11.2009

DOHA ROUND TALKS

(a)the details regarding pending issues over the global trade talks in Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) and the time since the impasse in talks has continued;

(b)the details of the proposals given by the developed and the developing countries to break the impasse and the outcome achieved thereon;

(c)the extent to which the concerns of the poor countries are likely to be addressed and the time by which a final decision will be taken in this regard;

(d)the details regarding percentage of Indian share in international trade before and after adopting liberalisation policies; and

(e)the steps taken to sort out the issue of Cross Border Movement of Indian professionals in getting foreign visas for work and the outcome therefrom?

ANSWER

 MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI ANAND SHARMA)

a)to e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 43 FOR ANSWER ON 23RD NOVEMBER 2009 REGARDING “DOHA ROUND TALKS”

Parts a) to c) : Following the impasse at the July 2008 mini-Ministerial meeting, members including the developing and the developed countries endorsed the need for an early resumption of talks. Based on subsequent discussions, the Chairs of the Agriculture and Non- Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) Negotiating Groups brought out revised draft modalities in December 2008. To re-energize the on-going discussions, India took the initiative by holding an informal Ministerial Meeting during September 2009. The meeting signalled considerable political enthusiasm for an early conclusion of the Doha Round.

Developed countries have been aiming for an ambitious outcome for furthering their commercial interests by demanding greater market access into developing countries while safeguarding their domestic support programmes. On the other hand, the developing countries want an ambitious, balanced and development - oriented outcome. These include, adequate and appropriate Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) with a view to safeguarding their food, livelihood security and rural development needs and to protect their sensitive industrial tariff lines. India and the other developing countries have been holding intensive negotiations to address the concerns of the poor countries through mechanisms such as the S&DT.

Part (d): According to the WTO Trade Statistics data base, India’s share in global merchandise trade rose from 0.53% in 1991 to 1.45% in 2008, while India’s share in global trade (goods & services) rose from 0.55% in 1991 to 1.65% in 2008.

Part (e) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the WTO covers temporary movement of natural persons. WTO agreement does not cover procedure for grant of visas and member countries can have their policies on grant of visas within overall frame work of WTO. India has taken several initiatives to address the barriers in the free movement of natural persons by engaging in negotiations at bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral levels.