New Delhi: Outlining three basic criteria for the proposed framework agreement for WTO (World Trade Organisation), Government today (July 16, 2004) said it should conform with Doha Ministerial mandate, have clarity and un-ambiguity and must not constrain possible trade-offs in future negotiations.

"The Framework should cover not only market access issues but also provide a roadmap for resolution of outstanding implementation issues relating to existing WTO Agreements and the Special and Differential treatment issues on which there has been little progress since the adoption of Doha Work Programme," Minister of State for Commerce E V K S Elangovan told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said India is receptive to the idea of the agreement by July 2004 as proposed, since it would be useful in tracking movements in the ongoing negotiations, provided it does not compromise on the country's national interests.

On a query if US Trade Representative (USTR) had asked the WTO member countries to resume international trade talks, the Minister said USTR Robert Zoellick had suggested in his letter dated January 11, 2004 that WTO members focus on core market access issues.