Commodity Online
NEW DELHI: India has requested the Australian government to allow export of Indian mangoes to Australia.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar took up the issue with Trade Minister of Australia Simon Crean when the latter accompanied called on the Indian minister.

Both sides appreciated the growing economic cooperation between the two countries and reiterated the need for increase in trade between the two countries to enhance economic cooperation between India and Australia.

The Indian side raised the issue of mango export to Australia. The Australian trade Minister agreed to convey the Indian concerns to Australian government and promised that Australian government would address the issue in right earnest to facilitate mango export from India to Australia.

The Agriculture Minister referred to the issue of food security and informed the Australian delegation of the efforts being made by the Indian scientists to develop drought resistant seed variety to meet the challenge of the adverse impact of climate change affecting the agriculture in particular.

The Australian delegation voiced its concern regarding the subsidies declared by the Government of India for sugar industry. They were of the view that these were non-compliant with the WTO regime. Officers present from the Indian side explained the background necessitating the subsidies stating that the subsidies were being extended to make payments to the sugarcane farmers and were in a way helping the international sugar prices to remain firm.

It was emphasized that these measures were within the WTO mandated regime. Both the Ministers expressed hope that some solution would be found to settle the issue through discussion between the two governments.