Underlining that consensus-based decision-making is the bedrock of the WTO’s legitimacy, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said it is important for the global body not to ignore the sovereign right of each member to not bind itself to rules which they do not agree to.
Speaking on the issue of decision-making including past mandates at the WTO meeting in Cameroon, he.emphasised the importance of rebuilding trust for overcoming challenges in reaching decisions through consensus,
The Indian minister stressed the importance of the WTO to undertake a careful stock-take of the current impasse and its underlying causes, while ensuring discussions remain transparent, inclusive and member-driven. He also highlighted that an integrated multilateral trading system cannot thrive alongside fragmentation within its own institutional framework.
On the ‘level playing field issues’, Goyal emphasised that discussions must take into account the asymmetries from the Uruguay Round. India focused on the need for long pending issues like food security, PSH, SSM on cotton to be prioritised while taking up new issues to address the structural asymmetries.
Highlighting the continued dysfunction of the dispute settlement system, Goyal was of the view that India emphasised that without effective adjudication, rules lose their enforceability, thereby disproportionately disadvantaging smaller economies.
India also cautioned against weaponising transparency to justify trade retaliation or challenge legitimate domestic policies. Instead, it should be accompanied by meaningful and sustained capacity-building support, ensuring that all members can meet obligations fairly and effectively.
India also stressed on the importance of all members to have a fair opportunity to build productive capacity, create employment, and participate meaningfully in global trade.
The day concluded with a Ministerial Plenary Session on WTO Reform Transparency. Speaking during this session, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal extended India’s support for a time-bound restart of reform efforts with milestones, based on a more robust evidentiary analysis and through engagement with submissions and Ministerial Decisions.
He also unequivocally called for eschewing cherry-picking issues and proliferating preconceived and prejudged positions.