India has made it clear that the global trading system must be equitable and fair, especially for the poor and vulnerable economies, if the process of multilateral trade negotiations is to move forward.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath conveyed India's position during the ongoing trade talks at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, ahead of the ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December to possibly strike a new multilateral deal.

"If there is a stalemate, it should not be seen as a failure. It only means that certain issues have not been adequately addressed and further negotiations are required to address these issues", he said.

Kamal Nath held discussions with WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi, the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Japanese Trade Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, among others at the global trade body's headquarters.

The Indian trade minister said the success of the Doha Round of WTO talks would be judged not by tariffs and formulae but by three crucial parameters, according to officials here.

He listed them as the number of new jobs the new round can create in developing countries, by how much the income of farmers in poor countries can rise and the number of poor people who can be extricated from poverty.

In the name of ambition to achieve some tangible results in the Doha Round, the WTO should not lose sight of the development dimension, which is of critical importance to billions of poor people around the world.

Kamal Nath also emphasised the need to urgently address the issues of non-tariff barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and the lack of clarity on WTO's antidumping rules that adversely affected exports from developing countries.

During his talks with Mandelson, it was indicated that India and the European Union would cooperate in making a submission to WTO to bring about greater clarity and disciplines in the area of anti-dumping.

Panitchpakdi said the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong was possible provided members dedicated themselves to "a politically engaged, results oriented, decision making mode of operation."

As he prepared to step down as WTO chairman, he wished to remind members that the trade must be a means of improving economic opportunities and to help countries fulfil their hopes of development.

Former European Union trade commissioner Pascal Lamy is scheduled to take over from Panitchpakdi on Sept. 1.