India wins US support for food scheme, ends WTO blockade

New Delhi

INDIA won US support for a massive domestic food stockpiling scheme on Thursday, rescuing the biggest global trade deal in two decades and giving new Prime Minister Narendra Modi a victory without major concessions.

Under the pact with Washington, India will lift a veto on a global agreement on streamlining customs rules that is likely to add US$1 trillion to the world economy as well as 21 million jobs - 18 million of them in developing countries.