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India to take up WTO issues with USTR

India will take up the issue of imbalances in World Trade Organisation weighed against developing countries during the meeting with United States Trade Representative Robert B Zoellick that begins in New Delhi on Wednesday.

This will be the first senior-level visit by an official of the present Bush administration who arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit late on Tuesday.

The visit would provide an opportunity to hold in-depth talks on the issues to be taken up at the WTO ministerial meeting at Doha in November, sources said.

Zoellick is scheduled to meet several senior ministers, including Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran, Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh and IT Minister Pramod Mahajan.

The USTR has also sought a meeting with the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The USTR will also interact with the industry chambers and leading businessmen.

The US government, which is in favour of a new round being launched at Doha, is expected to press its stand even though New Delhi has sought removing imbalances in the existing WTO agreements.

Two of the country's leading industry chambers - FICCI and CII - had recently led delegations to the US and had among other things raised concerns over the anti-dumping proceedings against Indian steel.

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