New Delhi: The government on Tuesday assured the Parliament that there would be no compromise on the issue of food security and fair compensation to the farmers in the WTO negotiations.
Union minister of state for commerce (independent charge) Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Parliament that India would be able to persuade the WTO members to appreciate the sensitivities of the country and other developing countries.
Last week, India decided not to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which aims at easing customs norms, without getting a simultaneous agreement on the public stockpiling issue for food security purpose, as was agreed during the WTO’s Bali ministerial in December last year.
“India is a signatory to the Bali Decisions, including TFA, and is not standing in the way of its implementation, but is seeking an equal level of commitment and progress in working on the issue of public stockholding which affects the country’s livelihood,” said Ms Sitharaman.
However, she maintained that India is committed to the WTO and that “we are determined to work to strengthen this institution.”
She added that “developing countries such as India must have the freedom to use food reserves to feed their poor without the threat of violating any international obligations. This is our sovereign right. It is our duty to protect our citizens' fundamental rights to life and livelihood.”
