Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | India faces 'food security' hurdle in WTO -Amiti Sen

India faces 'food security' hurdle in WTO -Amiti Sen

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Nov 23, 2017   modified Modified on Nov 23, 2017
-The Hindu Business Line

Members such as Canada, EU, US want stiffer safeguards for public stock holding

India’s demand for a permanent solution on public stockholding subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) is being challenged by several members, including Canada, the EU and the US, which are insisting on stiffer safeguards, restricted product coverage and a linkage with pruning of overall domestic support.

“As the deadline for coming up with a permanent solution at the WTO Ministerial Meeting next month is drawing near, developed countries and also some developing nations exporting farm produce are coming up with various proposals to dilute the provision.

“This is unacceptable to both India and other members of the G-33 group as the livelihood of our farmers and poor depends on our public stockholding programmes,” a government official told BusinessLine.

Food purchases at fixed prices or administered prices (such as the minimum support price programme) are considered to be subsidies at the WTO and counted towards the country’s overall ceiling on trade-distorting support (fixed at 10 per cent of value of produce for developing countries).
 
G-33’s demands

India and the G-33 group of 62 developing countries have been protesting against the provision, which goes against food security in poorer countries. A decision on an interim solution was taken at the Bali Ministerial meet in December 2013. It was decided that no penalties would be imposed for breach of limits subject to certain safeguards (peace clause) and a permanent solution would be in place by the end of 2017.

The Buenos Aires Ministerial meet is on December 10-13 and members are trying to reach an agreement on a small package of issues, including disciplining fisheries subsidies and agriculture subsidies and a permanent solution on public stockholding.

“Attempts are now being made to make the safeguards for getting the exemption so onerous that most developing countries would not be able to use them,” said the official, privy to a recent special session on public stockholding, at the WTO. For instance, Canada said at the meeting that a permanent solution should include an ‘ex ante’ transparency requirement, and safeguards should be in place to ensure that countries should not increase applied tariffs for the products procured under public stockholding programmes. This means that countries have to inform in advance a breach or a potential breach, which, for the G-33 countries is not a feasible option.

“This provision is completely unrealistic. Why should a country on its own invite trouble by stating that its subsidies might breach the given limits? It is also difficult to calculate as the market situation is volatile,” the official said.

Please click here to read more.

The Hindu Business Line, 14 November, 2017, http://m.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/india-faces-food-security-hurdle-in-wto/article9960550.ece


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close