The Economic Times, Bangalore | October 18, 2001
EVEN AS the fate of the fourth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) hangs in balance due to the US attacks on Afghanistan, Commerce & Industry Minister Murasoli Maran lashed out at the apex global trade regulatory body for allegedly ignoring the interests of developing countries.
Major economic powers like the US, the European Union and Japan are dictating the agenda of the WTO in view of their clout in the trading arena, he said today. From a rule-based organisation, the WTO was turning into a power-driven organisation manipulated my major economic forces. The WTO is supposed to provide equal treatment to all members and developing countries are in majority. However, as they were not co-operating with each other, industrialised countries are pushing their agenda through. Mr. Maran's obvious indication was at the differences developing among developing countries over opposition to a new round of WTO negotiations and the clear bid by economic superpowers to launch a new round at the Doha ministerial meet, which is scheduled to begin on November 9.
They (rich nations) want to bring every activity under the WTO umbrella. Under the garb of trade-related issue, they may even seek to bring family ties under WTO ambit, Mr. Maran commented sarcastically at the economic editors conference. The draft ministerial declaration prepared for Doha was not to the satisfaction of India and this has been made clear to the WTO. By taking up new issues, WTO would only usurp the territory of international bodies like the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation), he noted while replying to queries on India's opposition to a new round. "Many people are asking me why we should not participate in a new round, they are referring to various options like development round and millennium round. Such people do not understand the meaning of a new round. Why does the WTO not come out with a concrete plan for checking poverty? Then we will support them and participate in the plan. The current proposals can only be called an anti-development round. The WTO is now being run by a group of industrialised countries," he said. The patents issue was introduced in the 1978 Tokyo Round as an anti-counterfeit measure and India supported it. Look at the implications now, he said in a charged tone. Thousands are losing their lives in Africa and even Asia but TRIPS is keeping AIDS drugs prices high, he noted. We have now been tied to the chariot wheel of WTO. However, he ruled out quitting the WTO, as it was a necessary evil. Quoting estimates, he said any country which keeps out of the organisation has to sign 2000 bilateral agreements every year to maintain status quo. Why do you think China wants to join the WTO, Mr. Maran asked.
On the fate of the Doha meeting, the minister said the ministerial will definitely take place but it is not clear if the venue will the same. It is expected that the general council will meet this week to take a final decision. There are reports that Singapore might he chosen as the alternate venue and the dates might also be changed to facilitate participation of all member-nations.
On his part, Mr. Maran is likely to consult political parties in a series of meetings starting on Thursday to finalise India's stand on various issues. As of now, India is sticking to its stand of resolving implementation issues first and preventing new issues from-being taken up now.The Economic Times, Bangalore:
