India firm on services sector as part of WTO deal

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With the World Trade Organisation (WTO) postponing the talks on services without announcing a fresh date, India on Friday said it would make sure that there is some give and take by countries on services before the mini-ministerial talks end.

Commerce minister Kamal Nath said he would ensure that there are discussions on services before the talks end this week or early next week and that good deal in services would be made part of the July 2008 package, if the ministers’ talks do not break down.

Differences persist between developing and the developed world in liberalisation commitments in agriculture and industrial goods, prompting the WTO to postpone the talks on services.

Nath had earlier written to WTO director general Pascal Lamy that if developed nations do not make binding commitments in services, there would be no final agreement.

India had said it would aggressively push for substantial market access for its services in the developed world, especially regarding free movement of service suppliers across borders and outsourcing.

On services negotiations, Nath said he was here to do some serious business and did not want the Signalling Conference on services to be a cocktail party. He said he expects the Conference to be serious negotiating forum.

Nath said he did not want the services signalling conference to be shifted to a later date as India, with huge interests in services, was keen on giving shape to what it was getting and giving. He added that Lamy, however, had told him that there was a rhythm now to resolve issues on agriculture and industrial goods and therefore other discussions would have to be postponed.

The ministers’ signaling conference on services would indicate as to which all countries are willing to provide market access in different service sectors. It however, would not be the final stand on services.

Pointing to the restrictive domestic regulations in the developed countries that are hampering market access to India in developing countries, Nath had told the Trade Negotiations Committee that all sectors of interests to developing countries. Correction of domestic regulations lies at the heart of services talks.

“We are willing to do significantly more (in opening services sectors for developed countries) but it depends on whether they are willing to reciprocate on the limited demands that we have,” he had said.