Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

UK urges India to adopt flexible stance at WTO meet

Britain has asked India to adopt a 'flexible approach' for the WTO meet at Doha saying failure to arrive at a 'consensus' on the agenda for a new round will adversely affect its trade prospects and clout.

India has emerged as a strong voice in the international trading community and the WTO offers the country the best chance to exercise its influence to the full, British Ambassador to India Rob Young said in Bombay on Monday.

"Agreement on a new round depends on consensus. But no agreement will mean resurgence of bilateral and regional arrangement," the Ambassador said at a meeting on 'WTO-agenda for Doha' organised by Indian Merchants' Chamber.

Young said there has already been worrying increase in such agreements in the last few years specially since the Seattle meet.

The Indian Government has major reservations about a new round but nonetheless recognises the need for agreement, he said, adding that the Union Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran and his officials have made it clear that their primary objective for Doha 'is that it should be a success'.

Those already inside a strong trading block would be in better place to negotiate agreements while those outside like India would have less clout and therefore would suffer.

"This may be a negative argument for a new round. But it is a powerful one and I urge the Indian government to reflect on it," he said.

Tell us what you think of this report