India's Nath Pushes TRIPS and CBD

Geneva * Indian trade minister Kamal Nath last week urged his counterparts in Africa and South America to stand tough against the United States in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations by adopting an "aggressive strategy" for agreement on biodiversity and traditional knowledge (WTD, 5/18/05).

In an effort to head off US objections, India is preparing the ground for a common strategy among all developing countries for an outcome at this December's Hong Kong ministerial meeting akin to what trade ministers agreed to on TRIPS and Public Health at Doha in 2001, authoritative sources told WTD.

In a letter to his counterparts, Mr. Nath stated