26th February 2024 (12 Topics)
1
Feb
2
Feb
3
Feb
5
Feb
6
Feb
7
Feb
8
Feb
9
Feb
10
Feb
12
Feb
13
Feb
14
Feb
15
Feb
16
Feb
17
Feb
19
Feb
20
Feb
21
Feb
22
Feb
23
Feb
24
Feb
26
Feb
27
Feb
28
Feb
29
Feb
WTO's MC13
Context
The World Trade Organization's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) commenced recently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
What are key-priorities for India?
- India's primary task is keeping non-trade issues outside the ambit of the WTO.
- The key priorities for New Delhi at this multi-nation platform.
Food security
- India will maintain its stand of refusing to discuss issues related to agriculture at the ministerial-level meeting of the WTO, unless a permanent solution is found to public stockholding for food security.
- WTO members have expressed concerns over India's minimum support price (MSP) scheme for key agricultural products and export restrictions on commodities such as rice.
Poor fishermen
- India will continue to bat for a permanent carve-out for nations that practise low-income fishing in a bid to protect the livelihoods of poor fishermen.
- Apart from this, New Delhi will also push for not restricting countries from giving subsidies to fishermen operating within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
|
Fishing
|
Non-trade issues
- In line with its earlier stance, India will oppose any discussion on what the country considers non-trade issues, including discussions on the environment, MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), and gender matters at the ministerial conference.
|
EU’s carbon tax
|
Digital trade
- India will push to end a moratorium on customs duties on digital goods at the ministerial conference, saying that such a leeway tends to benefit a few developed nations.
- India believes that a country should be free to levy duties given that developing nations are losing around $10 billion in revenues due to this moratorium.
WTO disputes
- India will pitch for revamping the WTO's appellate body (which settles disputes among member nations), that has been out of action since December 2019 due to a decision by the United States to block appointments of new members to the entity.
- The body was established in 1995 under Article 17 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
- It is a standing body of seven persons that hears appeals in disputes brought by WTO members.
More Articles
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
