COMPETITION AND INVESTMENT
Singapore Declaration: To set up a working group to examine the relation ship between trade and investment and a working group to study issues raised by members on the interaction between trade and competition policy, including anti-competitive practices, in the WTO fr amew ork.
Where India stands: The study to examine trade investment links, as desired by Japan, Canada and the EU, would have come up in 1999 anyway under the TRIMs agreement re view. Subsequent paragraphs make sure the developing nations get their due. Thanks to their singular effort, especially India’s, the draft adds: "Future negotiations, if any, regarding multilateral disciplines in these areas will take place only after an explicit consensus decision is taken among WTO members on such nego-tiations." "Anti-competition measures" is expected to mean anti-dumping, on which India wanted a study and didn’t get.
CORE LABOUR STANDARDS
Singapore Declaration: The ILO is the competent body to set and deal with core labour standards. We reject the use of such standards for protectionist purposes and agree that the comparative advantage of countries, particularly low-wage developing ones, must in no way be questioned.
Where India stands: Trade experts call it an introduction of a new discretionary mechanism, akin to non-tariff barrier, mainly due to the insistence of strong labour lobbies in the US, Japan, Canada and EU continuing from the Marrakesh round. But the fact that ILO’s supremacy was retained and the language of the text addressed the usual worries of developing nations, controls the damage.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Singapore Declaration: A number of members have agreed on a declaration in trade in IT products... and agreed to tariff elimination for trade in IT products on an MFN basis (exports to these countries will attract zero dut y) as well as the addition of over 400 products to their lists of tariff free products in pharmaceuticals.
Where India stands: A remark able achievement. But India stayed out as it has only 40 items to offer for MFN, the time-limit of 2000 AD was too short, and industry had to be protected. But long term benefits on software exports far out-weigh these conditions. But since it’s a plurilateral (not binding on al l) agreement, India can join by March 1997.
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Singapore Declaration: Set up a working group to conduct a study on transparency in government procurement practices, taking into account national policies, and to develop elements for inclusion in an appropriate agenda.
Where India stands: This leaves out "announcement of procurement opportunities" from the Geneva text and developing nations are happy. India has ended preferences for the Centre, but it’s not clear whether states are under its purview.
