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India's Piyush Goyal Urges WTO Consensus, Warns Against Trade Imbalances

Union Minister Piyush Goyal led the Indian delegation at the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference, emphasizing that consensus-based decision-making is fundamental to the organization's legitimacy. He called for rebuilding trust among members and addressing long-standing issues like food security before introducing new subjects. India also highlighted the critical dysfunction of the WTO's dispute settlement system, which undermines rule enforcement, especially for smaller economies. On the conference sidelines, Goyal held bilateral meetings with counterparts from the US, China, and several other nations to discuss the agenda and deepen trade ties.

Key Points: Piyush Goyal Stresses Consensus, Reform at WTO Ministerial

  • Consensus is key to WTO legitimacy
  • Must address structural trade imbalances
  • Dispute settlement system is dysfunctional
  • Transparency should not be weaponized
  • Prioritize food security, public stockholding
2 min read

Piyush Goyal calls for consensus-based decision making at WTO meet (Lead)

India's Commerce Minister calls for trust, addresses trade imbalances and dispute settlement reform at the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference.

Piyush Goyal calls for consensus-based decision making at WTO meet (Lead)
"consensus remains the bedrock of the WTO's legitimacy - Piyush Goyal"

New Delhi, March 28

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has stressed the importance of consensus-based decision-making and addressing structural imbalances in global trade as WTO members deliberated on reform issues during the second day of the 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon.

Leading the Indian delegation, Goyal said that consensus remains the bedrock of the WTO's legitimacy and cautioned against undermining the sovereign right of members to not be bound by rules they do not agree to.

Speaking on decision-making and past mandates, he stressed the need to rebuild trust among members to overcome the current impasse, while calling for a comprehensive stocktaking of its underlying causes.

India also stressed that discussions must remain transparent, inclusive and member-driven, warning that fragmentation within the institutional framework would weaken the multilateral trading system, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.

On ensuring a level-playing field, India highlighted the need to address asymmetries stemming from the Uruguay Round and prioritise long-pending issues such as food security, public stockholding (PSH), special safeguard mechanism (SSM) and cotton before taking up new subjects, according to the ministry.

India also flagged the continued dysfunction of the WTO's dispute settlement system, noting that without effective adjudication, rules lose enforceability and disproportionately impact smaller economies.

Further, the country cautioned against weaponising transparency provisions to justify trade retaliation or challenge legitimate domestic policies, asserting that such measures must be accompanied by sustained capacity-building support for all members.

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

On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the US, China, South Korea, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Morocco and Oman, focusing on the MC14 agenda and ways to deepen bilateral trade ties.

The MC14 conference began on March 26 and will conclude on March 29.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Absolutely correct. The WTO dispute system is broken and hurts developing countries the most. Without a fair way to settle disagreements, the rules are meaningless for smaller economies. Hope this conference leads to real action, not just more talk.
D
David E
While I agree with the principle of consensus, it often leads to complete paralysis. Every member has a veto. Maybe there needs to be a middle path for certain procedural matters? Otherwise, the WTO risks becoming irrelevant.
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Aditya G
The point about not being bound by rules you don't agree to is fundamental. It's about sovereignty. Also, focusing on the Uruguay Round asymmetries is long overdue. Developed nations got a sweet deal back then, and it's time for a rebalance. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the bilateral meetings with the US and China on the sidelines. The real negotiations often happen there. Hope India can build bridges and find common ground, especially on the new issues vs. old issues debate.
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Karthik V
Transparency shouldn't be a weapon, that's a very important point. Sometimes these provisions are used to harass countries with strategic domestic policies. Capacity building for all members is a must for a fair system. Good representation by our team.

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