In a significant development CPI(M) demanded that New Delhi reject the revised drafts in farm and industrial goods circulated for negotiation at the upcoming WTO meet as it would harm India's interest and the matter be debated in Parliament. CPI(M) said these drafts reflect the efforts of the US and other developed countries to "tilt the outcome" of the Doha Round "decisively against the interest of the developing countries.India stands to lose immensely from the proposals on the table.. The Indian government should not yield any further ground in Agriculture or Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA)," the party politburo said in a statement.

The CPI(M) demands that the Indian government should reject the revised drafts in the upcoming WTO mini-ministerial meeting. "The matter must be discussed in the Indian Parliament," it said. The WTO Mini-Ministerial meeting will take place in Geneva from July 21 to 25 where Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath is expected to represent India. Pressing its argument, the CPI(M) said the revised text on agriculture requires the developing countries, including India, to reduce import tariffs on agricultural products by 36 per cent, which might affect the interest of small and marginal farmers.