August 6, 2014
Derek O’Brien speaks on India’s stand on WTO | Transcript
I was beginning to wonder where are the clarifications and sometimes clarifications became justifications but we will leave it at that, I will take an absolutely non-partisan view on this. Firstly, I think the original sinner was GAT Agreement of 1994, where it was clearly stated that we have to cap the procurement – it should not exceed 10% of the value to production. The problem which has happened is that it has remained to 1994. This re-calculation has not happened and the prices it is being calculated on are 1986 and 1988 prices. So the question here is since you have come back is, if we do the calculation based on the new prices which are 6/7 times higher, where does that take us. That takes us way beyond the 10% cap.
So, the first one. That was an inherited flaw, please tell us what is the current flaw where the developed countries have still been kept out of disclosing their subsidies. Developed countries – that’s $ 400 billion if you take EU and North America together – are still not disclosing these subsidies. Our understanding is that we made three offers. First is to mark it up to current prices, the second they made an offer to link it to CPI, which was rejected. And the third, and this is crucial, to allow us the opportunity to breach the 10%. Please give us clarity on that because eventually the understanding is, the government does not need to feel shy on this. You had an opportunity to be part of one trillion dollar economy or you had an opportunity to come up with a statement like yesterday; it was a tactical decision…
Now the Government is very keen on pushing so called reform forward in the name of FDI and you people are in a big hurry. You want it done in a particular date, it has to be brought up in this session, it has to be passed in three days. The same point here is, I am not picking politics, if the agreement you thought you have signed before the July 31, 20114, we are on the same page as you. You do not need to rush into signing that agreement. Try and sign it in December… try and sign it in February… the cut off as you know is August 2015.
And the last point Sir, in the kind of communication strategy you have used with the Prime Minister and for his election campaign we compliment you. It was a very good communication strategy because communication strategies need to work and you have got the numbers. But on a serious note, with such a great communication skill at your call, why are you not putting those skills to use? And I agree with Anand Sharma ji on this one. Take us into confidence, talk to us whether it is an international issue or something which is a bill. If you put those communication strategies to use, I think you will find all the solutions.
Overall we always believed that the food security bill – for all the ra ra we make about it – is impractical at times and it is also unwise, so we are with you on this. But please next time get everybody on board and if you haven’t found a solution in July, look for one before March.
Thank You.
