A revised text on agriculture circulated in the afternoon offered two options either adopting a permanent solution at the MC13 or members intensify negotiations at the committee of agriculture to arrive at a permanent solution for food security purposes available to all developing country members.
WTO meeting: India objects to agri timelines in draft text for permanent solution
India calls for re-examination of customs duties moratorium on e-commerce at WTO. Developing countries losing $10 billion annually. India opposes extension, facing $500 million loss each year. Policy options needed for digital industrialisation. Discussions at 13th Ministerial Conference.
“Members are indicating that additional time will be needed to iron out some of the outstanding issues,” said an official, adding that, for this reason, the informal meeting of heads of delegation and the formal closing session were postponed to Friday.
India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and global diamond trade bodies have raised concerns about the G7 bloc’s demand to route rough and polished diamonds through Antwerp for certification as non-Russian. The ban, part of sanctions imposed on Russia since the Ukraine war, will extend to diamonds weighing 0.5 carats and above from […]
India’s basmati rice exports are expected to decrease in 2024 due to increased competition from Pakistan, which is offering the grain at more competitive prices. In 2023, India’s basmati rice exports reached 4.9 million metric tons, just shy of the record high in 2020, leading to record revenue of $5.4 billion. However, Pakistan’s increased production […]
No consensus on fish subsidies at WTO talks
2 years ago
At the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, no consensus was reached on fisheries subsidies. India seeks special treatment and complete exemption for its small scale and artisanal fishermen. The negotiations are deadlocked and a meaningful agreement is needed.
India criticizes the Global North’s hidden agenda of using non-tariff barriers for market access. It urges the WTO to address services trade and mobility issues while emphasizing free trade and addressing the disparity in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).
India emphasizes restoring the appellate body as the top priority in the WTO dispute settlement system reform. New Delhi proposes a three-point action plan, opposes the EU’s MPIA proposal, and calls for formalizing ongoing informal discussions. Disputes can be settled through adjudication or a mutually agreed solution.
The US blocks WTO appointments, hindering negotiations and voice of Least Developed Countries. India’s Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulations benefits developing countries.
Negotiations at WTO’s Ministerial Conference on fish and farm subsidies are stuck. Developed countries resist developing nations’ demands. EU and US block pro-development agenda. Green room meetings continue. Little action seen on promises made by developed nations for development matters.