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Congress supports govt stand on implementation issues in WTO

With less than a month to go before the fourth WTO (World Trade Organisation) ministerial meeting, the Congress party on Thursday came out in support of the government's stand that implementation issues in the WTO be addressed upfront before a new round of negotiations is initiated.

"We share the view (of the government) that any talks for a new round should be preceded by some positive action on the implementation front," senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh said.

Singh, who along with Pranab Mukherjee met the Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran said the Congress party was of the view that implementation issues which were of concern to the developing countries like India must get priority.

Describing the hour-long discussions as detailed and meaningful, Mukherjee pointed out that it was in fact the Congress party, which was in power when India entered into the WTO agreements.

"On any international agreement there are bound to be areas of commonality as well as differences," he said adding that there were no major differences between the ruling NDA government and the Congress on WTO issues.

Maran had on Wednesday said he would hold deliberations with the opposition parties as well as coalitions partners to build a consensus on WTO.

The minister is slated to meet members of the NDA later on Thursday to brief them on the progress in the run-up to the next ministerial slated to be held from November 9-13.

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