Consensus eludes WTO; India protests checks on farm export sops

Nairobi: Any consensus was elusive at the WTO tonight on major agriculture-related issues as India lodged a strong protest against any move to eliminate farm export subsidies without safeguarding the interest of developing nations.

The disagreement of the developing nations' bloc, led by India and China, with the views of the rich nations including the US posed the risk of the four-day meeting of the WTO trade ministers getting extending at least by a day as the emerging nations pushed for a conclusion of the Doha agenda hanging in balance for almost 14 years.

No discussions have started on the important matters of developing countries, including special safeguard mechanism (SSM), public stockholding for food security purposes and reaffirmation of Doha Round, sources said.

India is keeping its "fingers crossed" as the uncertainty continues over the fate of the WTO ministerial meeting.

Although the talks have entered the final stage at the ministerial meeting, which began on Tuesday and was scheduled to conclude today, the developed countries were seen pushing for steps to check the export subsidies.

Indian commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Indian team was working positively in all negotiating track.

"Last night's negotiations continued till 3 AM. India blocking WTO?! Disagree," she tweeted, even as she ruled out any differences between India and Africa over the ongoing WTO talks.