World Trade Organization

A key area where member nations could not agree on was the moratorium on Customs duty on ecommerce

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington would work with like-minded partners outside the WTO if the moratorium is not restored

The talks ​at a WTO meeting in Cameroon include efforts to bridge differences between the US and ‌India over extending the e-commerce moratorium, which is due to expire this month

India signalled it may drop its ​opposition to an extension of the ecommerce moratorium - which is due to expire this month - and allow ​a two-year prolongation at the World Trade Organisation meeting

India and the US discussed next steps in bilateral trade deal negotiations on the sidelines of WTO MC14, amid evolving tariff policies and global trade uncertainties

The G2 benefit from their ability to craft rules to suit themselves. They cannot be trusted to reform anything

While the US and India acknowledge the need to reform the global trading system, they have resisted proposals of a substantive workplan on reforms

Okonjo-Iweala said the body's problems over decision-making needed to be tackled. Its current consensus-based model has been regularly stalled by objections from some countries

India's challenge at MC14 is conceptually clear, even if diplomatically complex: use the credibility conferred by its new bilateral relationships to defend, not dilute, the multilateral order

India supports easing investment flows into developing nations but maintains WTO is not the appropriate platform, reiterating opposition to IFD proposal

The US has called for a rethink of the MFN trade principle ahead of WTO's 14th ministerial meet, citing changing economic realities and concerns over reciprocity

WTO's 14th ministerial in Cameroon comes amid rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions, with India set to push key concerns on agriculture and trade reforms

WTO meet in Cameroon tests global trade unity as India pushes reform with pragmatism amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting economic priorities

It is time for India and China to walk the same path, with the former's wisdom and the latter's strategy converging, not clashing, to forge a new dawn for Asia, argue authors of Chanakya and Sun Tzu

The moratorium has divided nations for nearly three decades as economies including Brazil, India and South Africa argued they wanted to preserve domestic policy options rather than rubber-stamp it

WTO reforms, agriculture-related matters, dispute settlement and the e-commerce moratorium are expected to be discussed by trade ministers of 166 countries during the four-day ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Yaounde, Cameroon, an official said. Fisheries subsidies, China-led Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) agreement, e-commerce work programme and moratorium, development and S&DT (special and differential treatment), and level playing field issues are also among the topics that may figure during the 14th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) will take place from March 26 to 29, 2026, in Yaounde, Cameroon. The ministerial conference is the highest decision-making body of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). It meets every two years. The Indian team will be led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the official said. The meeting is important as global trade ..

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Amid political criticism, the India-US trade pact highlights how lower tariffs and deeper reforms could lift productivity and growth, if intent turns into binding change

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Friday held meetings with WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva and discussed issues pertaining to the forthcoming ministerial conference in Cameroon. The 14th ministerial conference (MC14) is scheduled at Yaounde, Cameroon, from March 26-29 this year. The conference is the highest decision-making body of the 166-member World Trade Organization (WTO). "Discussed key priorities for making MC14 a positive, balanced and inclusive Ministerial. Highlighted India's continued commitment towards constructive engagement with WTO Members for strengthening rules based MTS (multi-lateral trading system)," said a social media post by the Permanent Mission of India at WTO, Geneva. The Commerce Secretary also met with Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors of various developing countries and discussed key issues in the context of MC14. This was the first official engagement of Agrawal with WTO chief in Geneva after becoming commerce secretary. Besides ..

Topics scheduled for discussion include protecting scientific freedom, the future of the internet, mental health, and geopolitical risk outlook for 2026, among others