WTO backs India’s pitch to cut remittance cost

Separately, Indonesia has backed New Delhi’s proposal to reinvigorate the work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, which requires structured discussion on trade-related issues over global e-commerce, taking into account the economic, financial and development needs of developing countries.

Piyush Goyal said that India “firmly believes that any measures taken to combat climate change, including unilateral ones, should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade”.

India expresses serious concerns at WTO meeting over trade protectionist measures and their impact on exports to the EU. Issues raised include carbon tax, deforestation regulation, and the need for flexibility in WTO agreements. Speaking at a session on sustainable development and policy space for industrialisation, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said developing countries require flexibility […]

India is considering an export tax on low-grade iron ore to meet rising local demand. Small steel producers want restrictions, but the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries opposes it. India’s steel demand is increasing, driven by steel exports from China.

From the outside, it’s easy to think of India as an undifferentiated mass of individuals with leaders who turn up in places such as Abu Dhabi to reject everything the rest of the world suggests. But this is the world’s most complex democracy, and sometimes we just have to wait while it fights its internal […]

The analysis has shown that India has penetrated into what are termed as “absolutely new markets” in regions such as Africa, Central Asia, Latin America and North America during April-December 2023.

The debate at the World Trade Organisation’s meeting revolves around the e-commerce moratorium for digital media providers like Netflix and Spotify. Major decisions require consensus, and four proposals are being considered. The US industry groups are pushing for the renewal of the moratorium.

Imports of paper and paperboards have surged by 37% to approximately 1.47 million tonnes in April-December of the current fiscal year, impacting local paper mills, according to the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA). This marks a significant increase from around 1.07 million tonnes during the same period last fiscal year.

The WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi has sparked discussions on reforms to agriculture and fisheries subsidies. Developed countries aim to reshape the institution to favor their interests, impacting dispute resolution, decision-making, and negotiations. Developing countries must safeguard their interests and prevent the dominance of plurilateral agreements.

“Implementation of proposals in the WTO is challenging. The previous agreement to temporarily remove intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and discuss extending the waiver to diagnostics and therapeutics appears unlikely to be implemented