Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told NDTV that India has worked hard since July to convince the US and other nations on its stand over food security
India has not given any concessions to win America's backing on its stand for the World Trade Organization (WTO) deal, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told NDTV on Friday. India and the US on Thursday announced a breakthrough in the WTO talks, paving the way for the signing of the trade facilitation agreement that has the potential of boosting global trade by $1 trillion and adding 20 million new jobs.
India and the US have agreed to an indefinite "peace clause" on food security. It means that India can continue to provide food subsidies to its poor beyond four years.
India wanted to keep the "peace clause", which protects its huge state food purchases, until the World Trade Organization strikes a definitive deal on food stockpiling. As originally envisaged in Bali accord, the clause would expire in four years.
Ms Sitharaman said, "Our fear is, if working out a permanent solution cannot happen before 2017, we will be dragged into several litigations."
The minister said India was never against trade facilitation but had to stick to its ground on food security for the interest of its poor and farmers.
India has worked hard since July to convince the US and other nations on its stand over food security, she said.
"We had to do a lot of explaining. We really had to tell that our intentions were not to bypass or undermine the Bali agreement," Ms Sitharaman added.
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