Despite opposition, non-trade issues make their way into WTO draft package

Posted on:
Key Points

The draft package circulated ahead of the Abu Dhabi World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference next week has highlighted trade inclusiveness, womens participation in trade, industrial policy and environment issues that India and many other developing countries are opposed to...

The draft which will form the basis on which 164 WTO members will negotiate an outcome at the 13th ministerial conference has presented two options on public stockholding, a key issue of concern to New Delhi..

The first option is a work programme to make recommendations for a permanent solution and the second is setting parameters for continuous discussion to reach a permanent solution at the next ministerial meeting...

On facilitating participation of women and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in trade, the package said these are general messages on cross-cutting issues that do not change the rights or obligations of WTO members and do not relate to any joint statement initiatives (JSIs)...

India and many developing countries are opposed to such issues as they are not related to trade, dont have the consensus of all 164 members, and are being pushed when the longstanding and mandated issues related to food security remain unresolved..

You might be interested in

Majority of WTO members sign investment deal for development

26, Feb, 24

Majority of WTO members sign investment deal for development

At WTO meet, India calls out trade masquerading as environmental protection

26, Feb, 24

India also expressed concerns about attempts by developed countries to club long-standing development issues with new issues of trade and industrial policy

Hope that countries will come to WTO meet with positive attitude like India: Piyush Goyal

23, Feb, 24

India hopes for a positive outcome at the upcoming WTO meeting in Abu Dhabi, urging other countries to listen to the concerns of developing nations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the WTO's role in setting trade rules but also acknowledged significant problems within the organization. The meeting will discuss various issues including agriculture, fisheries subsidies, and e-commerce trade duties. Goyal emphasized the need to conclude ongoing WTO issues like dispute resolution and reforms.

India expresses serious concerns in WTO meet over unilateral protectionist measures

26, Feb, 24

New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI) India on Monday expressed “serious” concerns in a WTO meeting in Abu Dhabi over increase in the use of trade protectionist measures by certain countries in the name of environment protection. The remarks assume significance as the country has earlier flagged issues over the European Union’s (EU) decision to impose […]

India to insist on WTO taking its decisions via consensus, not votes

22, Jan, 24

India is set to advocate for maintaining the core structure of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which includes consensus-based decision-making and special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries, at the upcoming ministerial conference. S&DT provides benefits to developing nations, such as extended time to implement agreements and binding commitments.

WTO issues: India's stand & possibilities

26, Feb, 24

India Business News: Ministers from 160 member nations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) return to the Persian Gulf to discuss the core issues that have hindered progr

WTO chief sees link in trade & climate change

27, Feb, 24

International Business News: WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala supports discussing climate change aspects related to trade, including India's concerns about environment-rel

Third day of WTO meet: No breakthrough on agri, fisheries subsidies issues

29, Feb, 24

Abu Dhabi, Feb 28 (PTI) World Trade Organisation members have not yet managed to make any breakthrough on key issues pertaining to agriculture and fisheries subsidies as both developed and developing countries are tightly holding their positions, an official said on Wednesday. “There is no change in the stance in the last 24 hours on […]