Financial Times

Sri Lanka supports developing countries
Sri Lanka backed the stand of developing countries at last week's WTO talks where the poor wanted the rich to cut agriculture subsidies to farmers, informed sources said.

“Our stand was and has been clear and consistent over the years. We have been part of the strategies adopted by developing countries as a whole pushing for equality in farmer subsidies. In the latest case we were fully backing the slogans of developing countries,” an authoritative government source close to the Sri Lankan negotiators, said.

He was reacting to reports that Sri Lanka’s stand was mixed and in some cases backed richer countries. The presence of Jim Robertson, a US national and advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on the Sri Lankan delegation also triggered speculation that Sri Lanka would be influenced by Western positions. The US and its European allies had refused demands from developing countries that subsidies should end or equated with the situation in developing countries.

“Robertson was present more as an observer and didn’t get involved in the negotiations while the main team included senior Commerce Ministry officials and Sri Lanka’s trade commissioner in Geneva,” said a private sector economist.

The government source said Sri Lanka’s position may have been misinterpreted because while Sri Lanka was backing the position by developing countries Commerce Minister Ravi Karunanayake was also meeting trade ministers separately in a bid to negotiate bilateral agreements.

“There is nothing wrong in this. Individual countries can strike deals with others while following a common stand on issues,” he said also rejecting speculation that the proposed FTA with the United States would be jeopardised by Sri Lanka’s pro-developing countries’ stand.

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