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‘Singapore issues could be introduced thru backdoor’
PTI - New Delhi
Trade experts have voiced concern over the mounting
pressure to "debundle" the Singapore issues to bring them in WTO negotiations
through backdoor in the face of stiff opposition from developing countries.
The four Singapore issues are investment, competition, transparency in government
procurement and trade facilitation. In the Doha declaration, it was specifically
mentioned at the behest of India that negotiations could start only after modalities
had been agreed upon through "explicit consensus" at Cancun ministerial.
"There is pressure for debundling of issues, including modalities",
trade experts said at a national symposium organised by UNDP, UNCTAD and the
government of India. Trade experts who participated in the symposium included
Mr S Narayanan, former Indian ambassador, Ms Lakshmi Puri of UNCTAD and Ms Cecilia
of Third World Network.
Experts were also concerned over attempts at establishing
linkages with other issues and said there should be no linkage between Singapore
issues and negotiations in other areas.
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