New issues at WTO only after sufficient ground work: Com Secy

Ahead of the WTO ministerial meeting, India today said new issues like e-commerce and investment facilitation could be taken up only after completion of sufficient ground work.
Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said that many of the new issues, being pushed by developed countries including the US, are not directly linked to trade.
"Our position has been continuously that we will not refuge to engage (on new issues). We are ready to engage. Nevertheless, the technical work must happen at the committee level.
"These issues must be thrashed out and only when they reached a sufficient level of maturity, they can be brought to a (WTO) ministerial. This is clearly is our position," she said here at a CII function.

While India is pitching to fulfil the pending agenda which includes finding a permanent solution to the issue of food stockpiling, developed countries are pushing for inclusion of new issues like investment facilitation, e- commerce and rules for MSMEs in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agenda.
On e-commerce, she said even the definition and meaning of this varies from country to country.

This issue, she said, is certainly not mature enough to come up for actually making some progress at ministerial level.
Teaotia also emphasised on the importance of finding a permanent solution for public stock-holding purposes, which should be "better" than the peace clause which exists currently.

This clause enables India to continue procurement and stocking of foodgrain for distribution to the poor under its food security programme without attracting any kind of action from WTO members even if it breaches the 10 per cent subsidy cap as prescribed by the multilateral trade body.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to WTO J S Deepak said that at the WTO-headquarter in Geneva, lot of discussions are happening but member countries have divergent views on most the issues.
He also expressed concerns that the US is has taken different stand and is not fully engaged in the negotiations at Geneva.

On India's proposal for trade facilitation in services (TFS) in the WTO, he said the country would push for at least formulating a work programme on the matter post the Argentina meeting.
The proposal aims at liberalising rules for movement of professionals and other steps to reduce transaction costs to boost growth of the services sector.
TFS focuses on issues like liberalised visa regime, long-term visas for business community and freer movement of professionals for the greater benefit of both India and the world, among others.
On the ecommerce and investment facilitation matter, he said multi-lateral rules in these areas would limit India's policy making space.

Unless, India has its own national policy on e-commerce and investment facilitation , "we should not be taking commitments in the WTO".
The 11th ministerial conference, highest decision making of the 164-member body, of the WTO is taking place in Argentina in December.