IBSA leaders express serious concern on WTO impasse

Pretoria, Oct 19 (ANI): Leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) have expressed serious concern over the ongoing impasse in WTO negotiations.

"The current impasse in the negotiations is therefore a source of serious concern. The distortions caused by the high levels of protection and subsidies in agriculture in the developed countries continue to undermine the development prospect of many developing countries, especially the least developed countries" states the Tshwane Declaration adopted by the IBSA leaders at the conclusion of fifth IBSA summit in Pretoria.

They also reiterated their view that the demands of the current negotiations in the Doha Development Round reflect an imbalance in the sense that there is too much accommodation of the sensitivities of developed countries in agriculture, alongside unjust demands on developing countries to open their markets in the services and industrial sectors.

They expressed concern at initiatives, such as a standstill on tariffs that remove WTO consistent policy space previously negotiated by developing countries.

To overcome the current impasse and to bring the Round to a successful conclusion, the leaders also reiterated the need to re-affirm the integrity of the mandate that launched it.

IBSA leaders also signed an Memoranda of Understanding on establishing an academy for IBSA diplomats. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)