Monday, December 19 2005 09:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hong Kong: India managed to wrest some gains from developed countries in the crucial agriculture sector as it joined hands with developing country partners of G-20 and G-33 for addressing the livelihood concerns of poor farmers.

The WTO Ministerial Declaration sets 2013 as the final date for elimination of export subsidies, agrees to accelerate cuts in domestic subsidies and includes provision of Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism that are vital for developing countries' farmers.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy described the outcome as a balanced one with the tilt in favor of developing nations.

Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath hailed the Hong Kong declaration as a 'victory of developing countries of G-20, G-33, the African, Carribbean Pacific (ACP) countries, the LDCs and small economies who for the first time came together to push for the development agenda at WTO.'

Both the G-20 and G-33 welcomed the text saying it would give the much-required energy to global trade talks.

According to the declaration, developed countries will have to eliminate their export subsidies by 2013 while reducing them substantially by 2010, a major demand of the developing countries in the G-20 and Cairns Group.

India's food security and livelihood concerns were also taken on board in the declaration which provided for Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism.

With the provision on SPs, developing countries would be able to declare by themselves an appropriate number of farm products on which they would not have to reduce tariffs. India has food security concerns in soyabean, rice, wheat.