WASHINGTON: India has warned that failure to break new ground in WTO talks and the growth of protectionist tendencies in some advanced countries are impeding global trade and asked the world community to play a "pro-active" role for the success of the Hong Kong Ministerial in December.

After the failure of the Cancun WTO Ministerial in 2003, the world is eagerly looking forward to the Hong Kong session for putting the Doha Development Agenda "back on track," Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said. The progress made so far was "disappointing."Speaking at the World Bank Development Committee here on Sunday night, he said it was imperative that the global community reached a consensus in Hong Kong on ambitious developmental outcomes.

"Maybe the time has come for abandoning well-known positions and for upholding the Monterrey view, which had recognised that international trade is an engine for development and cautioned against trade barriers and other trade distorting measures."

Mr. Chidambaram asked the World Bank to play an intensive role in the coming weeks in protecting interests of developing countries.

The Hong Kong Ministerial must focus on negotiating modalities on agriculture and make dedicated progress on services, rules and trade facilitation. — PTI

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