India has said that it is willing to show “flexibility” for the success of the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, but wants the developed countries to make forward movement as well.

“India will obviously show flexibility to achieve such an outcome, but the onus for movement is clearly with large developed countries,” commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said.

During a meeting with the Netherlands foreign affairs minister Frank Heemskerk, Nath said India looks forward to conclusion of the Doha Round in the next one month or at the latest by the early part of next year.

He said India has been engaging with fellow member countries of the WTO.

However, “such a conclusion can only be possible if we are faithful to the mandate and the outcome reflects a clear balance between market opening and the development needs of majority of the membership,” he said.

Nath further said a third round of talks on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement would be held early next month in Brussels. While common areas have been identified for the FTA, discussions have been held in areas of intellectual property rights, geographical indications, dispute settlement and competition policy.

On the issue of reports by European NGOs that the Indian textile industry used child labour and violated human rights, Nath said: “It is important to put this behind us. The matter is closed and I do not want to see this proceed,” he said.

Mr. Divya Aggarwal

Money Management Consultants Ltd

Senior Copy Editor, Money Management Consultants Ltd
New Delhi, India

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