India has asked the United States to bring 850 additional agricultural, chemical and pharmaceutical items within the purview of Generalised System of Preferences scheme which allows duty-free entry for specified products into US markets.

The US GSP programme provides preferential duty-free entry for over 4,650 products from designated beneficiary countries, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy told Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Monday.

He said the GSP programme has been renewed and extended up to September 30, 2006. Washington is considering the Indian request.

Agriculture: The European Commission has claimed that its agriculture proposal, submitted to the World Trade Organisation, is fair with sufficient safeguards to protect food security of developing countries like India.

Rudy said the government is examining the EC's suggestion to create a food security box which is focused on needs of developing countries.

But the EC's proposals do not adequately address India's interests and concerns in the on going negotiations which include safeguarding food and livelihood security concerns, minimal market access for agriculture products, creating opportunities for export of agricultural surpluses as well as substantial reduction in all forms of trade-distorting domestic support and export subsidies provided by developed countries.

The negotiations are scheduled to conclude by January 1, 2005.

UNI