12-24-2005, 05:23 PM
<b>The just concluded Hong Kong Declaration adopted at the conclusion of the WTO meet on 19th December 06, is indeed a surprisingly broad based document calling for wide ranging changes in EUâs agricultural export subsidy to industrialized countryâs tariffs on exports from least developed countries.
According to international media reports India played an important role in the negotiations. The International Herald Tribune stated, âIndia, the champion of the developing world since the days of Gandhi but now a computer programming power as well, played a crucial intermediary role in persuading poor countries to accept portions of the agreement calling for freer trade in services like telecommunication and banking.â
It may be recalled that till the 1990s , India had some of the stiffest protectionist policies, and it still has high tariffs on many imports , from food to shoes. However, the rise call centers , computer programming, accounting and financial analysis in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities has created a large lobby in India for offering these services to other countries. This has made it possible for India to take mediatory stand on issues of free trade.
It is hoped that in the future negotiations India, Brazil and the Group of 90 nations will be able to maintain their solidarity and get the best of the deals possible from the industrialized nations.</b>
According to international media reports India played an important role in the negotiations. The International Herald Tribune stated, âIndia, the champion of the developing world since the days of Gandhi but now a computer programming power as well, played a crucial intermediary role in persuading poor countries to accept portions of the agreement calling for freer trade in services like telecommunication and banking.â
It may be recalled that till the 1990s , India had some of the stiffest protectionist policies, and it still has high tariffs on many imports , from food to shoes. However, the rise call centers , computer programming, accounting and financial analysis in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities has created a large lobby in India for offering these services to other countries. This has made it possible for India to take mediatory stand on issues of free trade.
It is hoped that in the future negotiations India, Brazil and the Group of 90 nations will be able to maintain their solidarity and get the best of the deals possible from the industrialized nations.</b>