India on Friday lashed out at the developed countries for enhancing subsidies to the agriculture sector, apart from high tariffs and trade distorting domestic support and asked them to take immediate corrective steps.
"One has to note the disappointing signals sent out by some major developed countries, whose action in significantly enhancing subsidies to the agriculture sector was against the spirit, if not the letter, of the understanding reached at Doha round," Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said.
India had vast stakes considering that the sector formed the backbone of the livelihood of many, Singh said, adding the country hoped that Doha round would lead to real progress towards elimination of trade distorting domestic support and export subsidies, coupled with high tariffs, maintained by the developed countries.
It was important that these issues, especially on agriculture, were addressed in the ongoing negotiations at Geneva, he said, inaugurating a seminar -- Multilateral Trade Negotiations: Unfolding Scenario -- organised by India chapter of Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce.
"There are other vital areas in the ongoing negotiations. Perhaps none is as important for the developing countries as a whole, than negotiations on agriculture," he said.
"Developed countries should take note of the growing disenchantment among the developing countries over the lack of progress on issues of interest to them and take early corrective actions," he said.
