At an informal WTO ministerial meet on the sidelines of the OECD gathering, India called for reviving the dispute settlement mechanism and addressing non-tariff barriers and distortions caused by non-market economies.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged prioritizing mandated issues and strengthening the consensus-based approach and special treatment for developing nations. India opposed the China-backed Investment Facilitation Agreement, saying non-trade issues should not dilute WTO’s core agenda.Â
India has made a strong pitch for reviving the long-dormant dispute settlement mechanism and addressing non-tariff barriers and trade distortions—particularly those stemming from non-market economies—at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade ministers’ meeting. This informal meeting took place alongside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial gathering.
During the deliberations, India underscored the need to uphold the WTO’s consensus-based decision-making structure and reaffirmed the importance of special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stressed that India is keen on reorienting the WTO’s focus toward issues that have already been agreed upon and mandated in previous ministerial conferences.
Convened by Australia in preparation for the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon next year, the mini-ministerial brought together around 25 trade ministers, including representatives from Australia, Singapore, France, and Nigeria. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was also present.
Goyal remarked that member countries shared a common resolve to improve the functioning of the WTO, ensure respect for its foundational principles, and strengthen the global trade landscape in pursuit of collective prosperity.
Responding to concerns that the multilateral trading system was undermined during the Trump administration in the U.S., Goyal noted that while such disruptions are part of the global landscape, they can and should be addressed within the WTO framework.
Reacting to the WTO Director-General’s call for India to join the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, which is backed by China, Goyal reaffirmed India’s position. He emphasized that priority should be given to issues already mandated within the WTO’s core trade agenda. Proposals that fall outside the organization’s primary trade mandate, he cautioned, risk creating further divisions among member states and therefore should not be advanced.
He also said there was a shared understanding among members on the need to revitalize the WTO and renew their commitment to multilateralism. According to him, all participants acknowledged the institution’s vital role in promoting balanced and fair global trade.
The meeting also revisited several unresolved matters, notably the call for a permanent solution to public stockholding of food grains—a pressing concern for food security in developing nations.
Goyal further highlighted the urgency of addressing unsustainable fishing practices, stating that overfishing and indiscriminate methods are seriously depleting marine resources and demand a unified global response.
India’s proactive engagement in the meeting reflects its dedication to shaping WTO reforms that are centered on development, inclusivity, and fairness in global trade.
