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Centre to continue talks with states on WTO

BS Economy Bureau

The government will continue the process of holding detailed consultations with the state governments while formulating India's strategies in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations.

Speaking at a workshop on "WTO issues for States", commerce secretary Prabir Sengupta said that a nodal officer has been appointed in the commerce department for interaction with states on WTO issues. He also suggested that state governments should create WTO cells.

The commerce secretary outlined the series of measures initiated by the government to raise tariff bindings on a large number of agricultural items as well as the government's initiative for extensive monitoring of imports for items on which quantitative restrictions (QRs) have been removed.

Sengupta said that an extensive consultation process involving consultations with the state governments, political parties, farmers' representatives, universities and other experts had earlier preceded the submission of India's proposals in the ongoing negotiations under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.

He said that the aim was to work towards introducing greater equity and balance in the Agreement on Agriculture, for which negotiations have already been initiated. India's proposals are also aimed at dismantling the trade-distorting measures, while at the same time ensuring fulfilment of the twin objectives of domestic food and livelihood security.

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