The Ninth Ministerial
Conference held in Bali tried to agree on three basic issues: trade
facilitation, agricultural subsidies compatible with food security and trade
facilities for LCDs.
As the Ninth Ministerial
Conference of the WTO took place in Bali, India lead the G-33, a group of the
developing nations, standing up for the developing countries to subsidize their
crops to bolster food security without having to worry about legal challenges.
There were some differences on simplification of international trade. In spite
of such differences, the Bali conference ended with success.
The food security proposal
has become important for India after it passed the Food Security law
guaranteeing heavily subsidized food for nearly two-thirds of its population.
The counter arguments were that the concern for food security and poverty
alleviation was logical but that should not be detrimental to food security of
others. The members also agreed to find a permanent solution to this problem breaching
ceilings mandated in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.
The positive outcome was
possible only due to the firm and resolute stand taken by Commerce and Industry
Minister, Anand Sharma. He described the decision as historic for India. “India
has played a major role in the revival and re-energizing the Doha Round of
talks. The Bali declaration is a positive step,” Sharma said.
The developing countries
desirous of benefiting from this decision may be required to comply with
certain anti-circumvention provisions and notification requirements. Further, only existing public stock holding
programs can be insulated from dispute challenges. While India is likely to be the main beneficiary
of this decision, many developing countries may be constrained by their
inability to comply with various conditions accompanying the decision.
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