India concludes WTO Trade Policy Review; members seek clarifications on PLI, QCOs, trade policy measures
New Delhi, July 24
India concluded its eighth Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization, with member countries seeking clarifications on issues ranging from production-linked incentive schemes and Quality Control Orders to trade remedies, while India defended its policies as being consistent with WTO rules and the needs of a developing economy.
According to a Ministry of Commerce and Industry release, the two review sessions held on July 21 and 23 saw participation from 68 WTO members, reflecting strong global interest in India's trade policies and economic transformation.
During the review, India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO members, while 68 members made interventions covering India's trade and investment policies.
Responding to the issues raised, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said India's trade policies are guided by "WTO-consistent principles while balancing the developmental needs of a large developing economy."
He said India's agricultural tariff structure is designed "to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of small, low-income and resource-poor farmers, ensuring fairness and equity," while industrial tariffs support "supply chain resilience, diversification and domestic manufacturing capabilities in an evolving global economic environment."
On questions related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical regulations and trade remedies, Agarwal said India remains committed to transparency and adherence to WTO rules.
He said India's Quality Control Orders "are intended to achieve legitimate public policy objectives," while trade remedy investigations are conducted "transparently, based on objective evidence, due process and judicial oversight."
The Commerce Secretary added that "the overall trade coverage of India's trade remedy measures remains limited" and that India continues to apply the Lesser Duty Rule in its anti-dumping framework.
The release said several WTO members appreciated India's engagement with the multilateral trading system and highlighted the country's progress in Digital Public Infrastructure, customs and trade facilitation reforms, innovation and startup initiatives, expansion of regional trade agreements, and efforts to integrate MSMEs into global value chains. Members also welcomed India's acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Reaffirming India's broader trade policy approach, Agarwal said the country remains committed to "an open, transparent and predictable trade and investment regime." He added that tariff reforms, customs simplification measures and India's free trade agreement strategy have strengthened integration with the global economy while supporting domestic development objectives.
On WTO reform, Agarwal reiterated India's commitment to "an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system," adding that reforms should "remain development-oriented, preserve policy space for developing countries, strengthen the Organization's credibility and deliver on existing mandates."
The review concluded with India reaffirming its commitment to transparency, dialogue and constructive engagement at the WTO, while WTO members acknowledged the country's growing role in the global trading system and expressed expectations that it would continue contributing to strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading framework.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some recognition for our DPI and startup ecosystem! But I'm concerned about the number of questions on trade remedies - are we becoming too protectionist? Need to balance domestic industry support with global competitiveness. The Lesser Duty Rule is good though.
The agricultural tariff argument is solid - protecting 100 million+ small farmers is non-negotiable. Western countries subsidize their farmers massively but want us to open up. Double standards! But we must ensure QCOs don't become non-tariff barriers for our own SMEs.
Proud that 68 members participated - shows India's importance in global trade. But 1,094 questions? That's like a university exam! 😅 Seriously though, hope our responses are thorough. The Fisheries Subsidies acceptance is a positive step. Need more FTAs like the one with UAE.
All good points but I wish we'd address the QCO concerns more seriously. Some of them are really hurting small manufacturers who can't afford expensive testing labs. Yes, quality is important, but implementation needs to be phased. Also, PLI should focus more on labour-intensive sectors like textiles, not just electronics.
The MSME integration into global value chains is crucial. We have so many talented small businesses but they struggle with compliance and quality standards. Hope the trade facilitation reforms actually reach the grassroots. Also, good to see emphasis on transparency - that builds trust with trading partners.
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