Developed countries must offer tariff cuts at WTO: Kalam

NEW DELHI: Rich countries should bring down tariffs on goods that developing countries want to export to them for achieving objectives of the Doha Round of trade talks at WTO, President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Friday.

"Equally important is the increased market access for products and services of export interest to developing countries to ensure Doha Round is indeed a development round," Kalam said in his address to Parliament.

Welcoming the resumption of negotiations, he said to break the impasse, developed countries must make meaningful offers to reduce trade-distorting subsidies provided to their agriculture sector.

The cut in agriculture subsidies by developed countries would make them less competitive in international market thus offering protection to developing countries. Lower subsidies would also give developing countries a chance to find markets for farm products in the West.

Kalam said the Doha Round must also allow freedom to developing countries to clamp down on agriculture imports from developed countries if it harms their farmers through predatory competition and low prices.