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India's Commerce Secretary Drives Global Trade Talks at WTO Conference

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held a series of crucial bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference. He engaged with trade representatives from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Chile, Nepal, and Paraguay. The discussions focused on advancing the MC14 agenda, addressing global trade challenges, and deepening bilateral economic cooperation. Key talks included progress on trade agreements like the India-Chile CEPA and India-Philippines PTA negotiations.

Key Points: India's WTO Agenda: Commerce Secretary's Key Bilateral Meetings

  • Bilateral trade talks at WTO MC14
  • Strategic discussions with 6 nations
  • Focus on trade reforms & agreements
  • Strengthening India's global economic reach
2 min read

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal engages with global counterparts to advance trade agenda at WTO Ministerial Conference

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal meets US, Saudi, Philippines, Chile, Nepal & Paraguay counterparts at WTO MC14 to boost trade ties and reforms.

"Had detailed discussions on the MC14 agenda and explored strategic ways to further deepen our economic cooperation - Department of Commerce"

New Delhi, March 26

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held a series of high-level meetings with international leaders to address global trade challenges and bolster bilateral economic cooperation.

The discussions took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), where Agrawal engaged with representatives from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Chile, Nepal and Paraguay to discuss strategic trade reforms and bilateral agreements.

The Commerce Secretary met with Ambassador Joseph Barloon, the Deputy United States Trade Representative and Chief of Permanent Mission of the United States to the WTO.

"Had detailed discussions on the MC14 agenda and explored strategic ways to further deepen our economic cooperation and bilateral trade ties," the Department of Commerce said on X.

In another significant interaction, Agrawal met with Fareed bin Saeed Al-Asaly, the Deputy Governor for International Organisations and Agreements of Saudi Arabia.

"Discussed the ongoing challenges to global trade, MC14 agenda as well as exchanged views on deepening bilateral economic ties," the Department of Commerce noted.

The Secretary also engaged with Allan B Gepty, the Undersecretary for the International Trade Group at the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines.

"Had productive discussions on WTO reforms and promoting bilateral trade under the India-Philippines PTA. Also discussed ongoing AITIGA negotiations and related market access issues," the Department of Commerce stated.

Furthering India's economic reach in South America, Agrawal met with Paula Estevez Weinstein, the Vice-Minister of International Economic Relations of Chile.

"Discussed progress in India-Chile CEPA negotiations, its early conclusion, and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and trade," the Department of Commerce said on X.

Agrawal also held talks with Ram Prasad Subedi, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and WTO in Geneva.

"Discussed the MC 14 agenda and various aspects of it. We also discussed how to further strengthened our trade relations and streamline trade through institutional mechanism," the Department of Commerce highlighted.

On the same day, Agarwal also met with Ambassador Patricia Frutos, Vice-Minister for International Trade and Integration of Paraguay.

"Had productive discussions on the MC14 agenda and enhancing bilateral trade," the Department of Commerce said on X.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see engagement with Nepal. Streamlining trade through institutional mechanisms with our neighbors is crucial. Hope this translates to smoother cross-border movement of goods and benefits for small traders on both sides.
V
Vikram M
While the diplomatic outreach is impressive, I hope these discussions lead to tangible outcomes for our exporters. Sometimes these high-level meetings feel like a formality. The early conclusion of the India-Chile CEPA would be a real win.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the tech export sector, strengthening ties with the Philippines under the PTA is very welcome. Resolving market access issues there can open up great opportunities for Indian IT services.
R
Rohit P
The meeting with Saudi Arabia is key. Beyond oil, there's huge potential in infrastructure, renewable energy, and food security partnerships. Hope we are pushing for more Indian participation in their Vision 2030 projects.
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Nikhil C
All this talk of trade is good, but what about protecting our farmers and MSMEs at the WTO? I hope Secretary Agrawal is also firmly putting forward India's stance on public stockholding and special safeguard mechanisms. That's non-negotiable.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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