Tuesday, July 12 2005 15:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dalian: The G-20, of which India is a member, today urged developed countries to dismantle the restrictive non-tariff trade barriers erected against developing nations so as to lead the Doha Development Round to a successful conclusion by 2006.

"Agriculture lies at the centre of the Doha round. As the area with the greatest distortions maintained by developed countries and where developing countries enjoy sizable comparative advantages. Meaningful results in agriculture are essential to lead the Doha Development Round to a successful conclusion by 2006," the G-20 said in a statement prior to the Dalian Informal Ministerial Meeting today (July 12, 2005).

"The G-20 is prepared to work towards assuring positive results in July," the statement said.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, along with his counterparts from China, Chile, Argentina, Thailand, South Africa, Pakistan, Mexico, Indonesia, Egypt and Cuba are attending the meeting.

"The G-20 expects responses by the major players, who are yet to indicate their political will to implement commitments in line with the ambition set out in the Doha Mandate," the statement, issued at the end of the G-20 meeting chaired by Brazilian Commerce Minister Celso Amorim said.

Following Nath's intervention on the need to address non-tariff barriers (NTBs) facing exports from developing countries, the issue has been included in the G-20 agenda.