-Outlook Bali: In a development that has increased the risk of collapse of Bali talks, India today in a strongly-worded message to the WTO members said the food security issue is "non-negotiable" for New Delhi. Addressing the plenary session of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said the Bali package must be substantive, and historical imbalances in trade rules must be corrected to ensure a...

The Pension Parishad is holding a dharna in Delhi for the rights of elderly since 26 November. It has demanded that a Universal and Non Contributory Old Age Pension System should be established with a minimum dignified amount of monthly pension not less than 50% of minimum wage or Rs 2000/- per month, whichever is higher. Despite several rounds of talk held between the campaign leaders and the Government in...

-Live Mint Our food procurement policies may be lopsided but there is no link between the food security law and free trade The upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) summit in Bali has attracted considerable attention in India because of its repercussions on our food policy. It is feared that the recently passed food security law will breach the negotiated limits on the aggregate measure of support (AMS) to farmers. AMS is...

-Outlook   Ahead of WTO meet in Bali, India today decided to insist on permanent immunity from actions for breach of subsidy level on rolling out food security plan-- a stand that can potentially derail talks next week. The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided to insist on solution to the subsidy breach issue prior to finalisation of Trade Facilitation Agreement even if it means that New Delhi will be blamed...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Even as commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma sought to push an interim solution or a "peace clause" that will prevent WTO members from seeking penalties from countries such as India for breach of subsidy cap, the Opposition parties and farmer groups have asked the government to reject the solution, arguing that it is not in the country's interests. At next week's Bali ministerial meeting,...