India opposes group consultation on food subsidies programme at WTO

The members had expressed concern with India's "lack of full transparency" in taking recourse to the Bali Decision as well as in replies to certain questions raised in the Agri Committee

India has opposed efforts of a 10-member group of developed and developing countries, which has called for consultation on the food subsidy programme at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a group format rather than bilaterally.

Speaking at the WTO General Council meeting on October 7, India’s ambassador and permanent representative to the WTO Brajendra Navnit said he doesn’t understand the “hesitancy” of the countries to consult bilaterally.

“The Bali decision has not given this format of consultation. And in the WTO, this is the first time I am hearing that members are not interested in bilateral discussion to solve