By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : A new world trade deal could be reached in the next few weeks, British Premier Gordon Brown recently told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, signalling a consensus between India and Britain, two key countries in the talks.
The rare optimism over the talks – stalled since last year – came when Brown met Manmohan Singh in Kampala Nov 24 during the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the British foreign office said Monday.
Brown is now hopeful that “outstanding issues can be resolved” and that an agreement could be reached, it added.
Agreement by the leaders of two of the most important of the Commonwealth’s 53 countries could give a fresh impetus to the talks, known as the Doha Development Round after the Qatari capital where it was launched in 2001.
Speaking after talks with Manmohan Singh at Munyonyo resort on the shores of Lake Victoria, Brown said that it was important to bring about greater stability at a time of “financial turbulence”.
“I think there’s a consensus about the things that need to be done. Obviously we need a cut in agricultural subsidies in the European and American markets. We need progress in opening up manufacturing.
“We need to understand the sensitivities of rural farmers in India and elsewhere.”
Brown added that Commonwealth leaders should send a signal that “a globalisation which is based on open markets, free trade and flexibility is the best way forward to create growth and prosperity in the world economy.”
He also acknowledged that rich countries would have to ease protections for their farmers.