Sunday, December 18 2005 17:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hong Kong: Trade ministers from 149 countries at the sixth WTO ministerial here have agreed to eliminate farm export subsidies by 2013, according to the final revised draft text released today (Dec 18,2005).

The draft also proposes to end cotton subsidies by next year, fulfilling a key demand of west African nations.

Indian trade officials have welcomed the revised draft.

The end date of eliminating export subsidies was agreed as 2013 following strong resistance from the European Union to accept the earlier date of 2010.