India Advocates Member-Driven Approach at WTO Meeting

India Pushes for Consensus-Based WTO Reforms at MC14, Highlights Global Trade Imbalances​

India Advocates Consensus-Driven Decision Making at WTO​

New Delhi, March 28 – Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of consensus-based decision-making during the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Cameroon.

Leading the Indian delegation, Goyal stated that consensus is fundamental to the WTO’s legitimacy. He cautioned against undermining the sovereign rights of member nations, asserting that no country should be obligated to accept rules without its consent.

Rebuilding Trust Key to WTO Reform​

Addressing WTO reform and past mandates, Goyal highlighted the urgent need to rebuild trust among member countries. He noted that overcoming the current impasse requires a comprehensive assessment of the root causes affecting the multilateral trading system.

India stressed that all discussions must remain transparent, inclusive, and member-driven. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry warned that fragmentation within the WTO framework could weaken the global trade system.

India Raises Concerns Over Global Trade Imbalances​

India called attention to structural asymmetries in global trade stemming from the Uruguay Round. It urged WTO members to prioritize long-standing issues such as food security, public stockholding (PSH), special safeguard mechanism (SSM), and cotton before introducing new topics.

Dysfunctional Dispute Settlement System Impacts Developing Nations​

India expressed concern over the continued dysfunction of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism. It emphasized that without an effective adjudication system, global trade rules lose enforceability, disproportionately impacting smaller and developing economies.

Transparency Measures Should Not Enable Trade Retaliation​

India cautioned against the misuse of transparency provisions to justify trade retaliation or challenge legitimate domestic policies. It stressed that such measures must be supported by sustained capacity-building efforts for all WTO members.

India Supports Time-Bound WTO Reform Process​

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, speaking at the Ministerial Plenary Session on WTO Reform and Transparency, reiterated India’s support for a time-bound reform process with clearly defined milestones based on evidence and member-driven engagement.

Bilateral Meetings Strengthen Trade Relations​

On the sidelines of MC14, Piyush Goyal held bilateral meetings with counterparts from the United States, China, South Korea, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Morocco, and Oman. The discussions focused on advancing the MC14 agenda and strengthening bilateral trade ties.

MC14 Conference Timeline​

The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) began on March 26 and is set to conclude on March 29, bringing together WTO members to discuss key global trade challenges and reforms.