BUSINESS

WTO talks in jeopardy: US blames India, China

By Yoshita Singh in Geneva
July 28, 2008 18:52 IST

The US on Monday blamed India and China for creating hurdles in the ongoing WTO talks here and said Doha trade talks have been thrown into the "gravest jeopardy" by these two countries which are not willing to open their markets for more imports.

"Their (India's and China's) actions have thrown the entire Doha Round -- the Doha Development Round - into the gravest jeopardy in its nearly seven-year life," a US trade official told ministers at ongoing WTO meeting.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab too voiced her frustration against the stand taken by developing economies in the talks. She left the WTO headquarters after a meeting last night.

"Unfortunately a few emerging markets have decided that somehow they want to re-balance it in favour of one or another issue," she said while indicating her unhappiness against India and China.

She said while the negotiators at the talks have a tentative agreement on a path forward "I think the biggest concern we have is that a handful of large emerging markets threaten this round for the rest of us and for the other developing countries who are so critically dependant on a successful development outcome of this development round".

Yoshita Singh in Geneva
Source: PTI
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