No Freezing of Customs Duties - Anand Sharma
COMMERCE Minister Anand Sharma ruled out freezing of the customs duties at the current levels (Tariff standstill) and stated that this amounted to the developing countries ceding their policy space and being denied any recognition for their autonomous liberalization. Besides unhinging the negotiated formula on tariff reductions it would force the developing countries to take on commitments going much beyond what was envisaged for at the end of the Doha Round. He was addressing the Group of 20 developing countries in Geneva yesterday.