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India unhappy with draft package at WTO

India has expressed disappointment over the draft package for implementation circulated at the recent World Trade Organisation General Council meeting in Geneva and sought a fast-track mechanism to resolve implementation issues within a certain time-frame.

"The draft package given for implementations falls short of our expectations and we have conveyed that," commerce secretary Prabir Sengupta said.

He, however, said, the forthcoming Singapore meeting likely to be attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran, would provide India another opportunity to exchange its views before the WTO ministerial at Doha.

Meanwhile, commerce ministry officials said India had suggested setting up of a fast-track mechanism with a fixed time-frame to resolve implementation issues and also sought clear indications that developing countries would not be asked to 'pay again'.

"We want to ensure that as in the earlier agreements, developing countries are not time bound to give up something in exchange under future agreements," they said.

Sources said there were indications that another General Council meeting could be held before the Singapore meeting on October 13 to sort out differences over the draft ministerial declaration. Two drafts were circulated at the recent General Council Meeting at Geneva - a draft ministerial declaration and a draft decision on implementation issues.

"What has been included (in the draft implementation package) is not very significant. We expected much more," sources said, adding core issues had been left out. While options have been given to developing countries for future agreements on investment and competition, there are no options in trade facilitation or transparency in government procurement," sources said.

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