INDIA READY TO RETURN TO WTO TALKS, BLAMES US FOR IMPASSE.

NEW DELHI, Aug 1 Asia Pulse - Squarely blaming the US for the collapse of the WTO talks in Geneva early this week, India on Thursday said it can return to negotiations but will not compromise on protection to farmers in an open market.

"I told the WTO Director General that India is ready to be on the table without compromising on issues which concern poor farmers of not only India but 100 other developing countries," Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath said here on his return from the WTO headquarters.

Describing the failure of the marathon talks between 30 trade ministers as a "serious setback to the developing countries," Nath said the US created the deadlock on an issue which was not trade but related to livelihood of farmers.

"The US thought it fit to create an impasse on a safeguard mechanism...not on commercial interest but livelihood," he said, adding "I can negotiate commerce but I cannot negotiate livelihood security".

Nath said he had spoken ...