Rethink trade

India's attitude to WTO negotiations needs more clarity

Early next week, officials across the world will gather for the 13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization. MC13, as it is called, will begin on the 26th of this month in Abu Dhabi — and it is far from clear what, if anything, it could possibly achieve. The fact is that there are few stakeholders who are willing to expand the agenda of global trade negotiations. Even reviving basic WTO functions — such as the appellate body that serves as the final word on trade disputes — seems unlikely. The latter has been moribund since former United States