Indian farmers protest at trade talks

NEW DELHI, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- International trade talks to revive the Doha round began in New Delhi with some 10,000 Indian farmers protesting efforts to liberalize agriculture trade.

The farmers, already hit by a major drought, fear a more liberalized trade would mean a rush of mechanized foreign operations that would further hurt their already meager livelihood, the Christian Science Monitor reported. Those against agriculture trade barriers say liberalized trade will be a stimulus in difficult economic times and fight protectionism by some countries, the report said.

The Doha round collapsed in July 2008 and the current New Delhi talks among trade ministers from some 36 countries are designed to restart the Doha round.

The report said in 2008, India championed the developing nations' concerns about opening up agriculture trade. The Monitor says the International Food Policy Research Institute found a Doha agreement could prevent a likely loss of $809 billion which could result from protectionist trade wars.

The New Delhi talks come after the current Indian government won a big victory in general elections in May. Before that, its coalition partners included India's left parties.

"One of the main threats to a revival of trade flows is the rising protectionist pressures, and continued delay in concluding the Doha Round," Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said in his opening remarks.

One of India's concerns is that despite calls against protectionism, countries like the United States as well as the European Union continue to subsidize their farmers to the extent that is beyond the reach of poorer countries.