India has recently expressed concern over slow progress in finalising the agenda for the Nairobi ministerial meeting of WTO members to resolve the pending issues of the Doha Round.
A crucial meeting of trade ministers of key WTO member countries including India and the US will take place in Paris next month to discuss the pending issues of the Doha Round and finalise the agenda for the Nairobi ministerial meeting in December.
It will be held on the sidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development meeting in Paris on June 4 or 5, said a senior official at the Commerce Ministry.
India has recently expressed concern over slow progress in finalising the agenda for the Nairobi ministerial meeting of WTO members to resolve the pending issues of the Doha Round.
Trade ministers of about 15 countries including India, the US, EU, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and China are expected to attend this crucial meeting. WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo will also participate in the deliberations.
India will present its views on bringing back issues related to the long-stalled Doha Round including agriculture (export subsidies, cotton and fishery subsidies), market access and services, the official said.
The ministers will finalise the agenda for the Ministerial Conference, which is the highest decision making body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), scheduled from December 15-18 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Doha Round of negotiations launched in 2001 have remained stalled since July 2008 due to differences between the rich and the developing nations mainly over the subsidies given to farmers.
As per estimates, successful conclusion of the Doha Round could boost global trade by up to $ 200 billion a year.
Besides attending the WTO deliberations, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would meet European Union Trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstr?m on June 4.
Both the leaders will discuss trade related matters including the proposed free trade agreement.
"EU is expected to talk about resumption of the Broad- based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA). India may invite them for the talks," the official added.
In May 2013, India and the 28-nation bloc had failed to bridge differences over critical differences including data security and visa liberalisation related matters. After that, no formal round of talks have been held.
India and the EU are negotiating BTIA that will include trade in goods, services and investments since June 2007. Commerce between the two sides was $101.5 billion in 2013-14.
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