India Takes A Stand At WTO

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Indian Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Anjali Prasad, has informed that the New Delhi government cannot be pressurized in saying yes to easier custom rules until and unless it food subsidy concerns are addressed. Anjali Prasad addressed the TFA (Trade Facilitation Agreement) meeting in Geneva this Friday.

She said that India was certainly not in the position to risk the food security of millions and demanded that the approval and adoption of TFA should be postponed until a permanent solution on public stock holding for food security is found. She said “ In order to fully understand and address the concerns of Members on the TF Agreement, my delegation is of the view that the adoption of the TF Protocol be postponed till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security is found. In this context we have suggested a modification to the Protocol in the PrepCom. We stand by that proposal. The Bali outcomes were negotiated as a package and must be concluded as such. Timelines are important but we cannot afford to act in haste in the WTO ignoring the concerns expressed by Members.

“We suggest the following course of action,” she further added, “ 1)establish immediately an institutional mechanism such as a dedicated Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture to find a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security. (2) There must be clear-cut procedures, timelines and outcomes under this institutional mechanism so as to arrive at a permanent solution by 31st December 2014. (3) A similar approach must be adopted on all other elements of the Bali Package notably the LDC issues.And (4) The progress of these accelerated discussions must be reviewed in October 2014 by the General Council.”