Wednesday, December 21 2005 14:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Making a statement on the outcome of the ministerial conference, Nath, who led the Indian delegation, said the document 'finally agreed upon, addresses our core concerns and interests and provides us enough negotiating space for future work leading up to modalities.'

Observing that principal elements of the declaration represented significant gains for India, he said "In agriculture, in domestic support, developing countries like India with no Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) commitments will be exempt from any cuts on their demimondes support".

He said Green Box criteria would be reviewed so that programmes of developing countries, which have minimal trade distorting effect, would be incorporated in it.

"All forms of export subsidies by developed countries and other export measures with equivalent effect such as export credits, guarantees and insurance in excess of 180 days would, among other things, be eliminated by the end of 2013, "he said.

The Minister said developing countries like India would be able to continue to provide marketing and transport subsidies for five years after elimination of export subsidies up to 2018.

Developing countries would also be able to self-designate an appropriate number of tariff lines as special products guided by indicators based on the criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development.

He said to safeguard farmers against surge in imports or fall in international prices, such countries will have recourse to a special safeguard mechanism with both import quantity and price triggers, he said.

Specifically on cotton, export subsidies by developed countries would be fully eliminated in 2006 and trade distorting domestic support by developed countries would be reduced ambitiously over a shorter period than for other agricultural products.

Questioning the claims made by the minister, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Deputy Leader V K Malhotra said the outcome was not in the interest of India. He wanted a full debate on the issue.

Gurudas Dasgupta, Communist Party of India (CPI), termed as 'exaggerated' the claims made by the Minister.

Describing it as an important issue, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he was prepared to allow a full discussion in the House.