India and the United States pressed each other to watch out for poor countries' interests in global trade talks, but a top Indian official expressed hope the two sides could bridge differences that have jeopardised chances of a deal this year.

There has to be a convergence of respecting each other's sensitivities. It was the first meeting for officials of the two nations since trade talks broke down last week among Indian, US, European Union and Brazilian officials in Potsdam, Germany. The discord at Potsdam disappointed those who hoped the four major trading powers could push the Doha round, which has been moving in fits and starts since its 2001 launch, closer to a deal by the end of the year.

US has said that India had a special role as a Doha round leader for developing countries to act on behalf of poor countries, not just in its own interest. Changes in the global economy have deservedly given advanced developing countries like Brazil, India and China an enhanced role in world trade talks. The US and other developed countries have an obligation to open their markets the most in any WTO trade deal, but some of the market opening burden needs to borne by other players, by the emerging players like Brazil, India and China.

Although India expressed confidence the United States and India could bridge their differences, it repeated its long-standing concern that significant market openings could hurt India's 600 million subsistence farmers.

India also has to look out for other developing countries, which could be hurt by a bad Doha deal. When we talk of the Doha round it's important that the economies of the developing countries become healthy and remain.

Mr. Neeraj Sharma

Neeraj Electronics

CEO, Neeraj Electronics
Jorhat, India

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