Cancun (Mexico): In a major victory for India and other developing countries, chairman of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial, Mexican Foreign Minister Louis Ernesto Derbez, has agreed to look into all proposals on agriculture including that of G-21 countries before formulating the final draft.

An instruction to this effect was given by Derbez to Singapore Trade Minister George Yeu Yong-Bon, who was appointed as a facilitator for agriculture on September 11.

A facilitator is a kind of a sub-committee which would go into various aspects before formulating the revised draft that would be tabled at the Ministerial.

Debrez agreed to look into the G-21 proposals after India and several other members of the group met him on September 11 to voice their protest against the draft ministerial text circulated to members. The text did not reflect the G-21 proposal on agriculture that was sent to the WTO General Council as a counter to the pro-developed European Union (EU)-United States (US) framework.

Asked about the evolving situation at the WTO Ministerial, Derbez told reporters that the facilitator on agriculture has been asked to factor-in all positions on agriculture including that of G-21 before finalising the draft on September 13.

PTI

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