Page 2 - World Trade Organisation

Consensus on food security solution at WTO meet next month difficult: GTRI

Reaching an agreement on food stockpile issue at the WTO meet next month is difficult as both developed and developing countries have diverse views on the matter, economic think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that developed countries like the US argue that India's programme could distort trade. The issue will figure in the 13th ministerial conference (MC 13) at Abu Dhabi from February 26-29. MC is the highest decision making body of the 164-member Geneva-based global trade body WTO. "MC13 might not resolve the issue, showing the conflict between developing countries wanting to protect food security and developed countries pushing for free trade," the GTRI said in its report. India's top priorities for the MC13 include securing a permanent solution for its public stockholding (PSH) programme. This programme seeks flexibility in food procurement and pricing, crucial for India's food security needs. The PSH programme is a policy tool unde

India's fight for food security at WTO

Amid scrutiny of its market support for rice, India must remain vigilant in signing future trade deals to safeguard its interests

Global economy, trade normalising, but still not normal: Leaders at WEF

As the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting drew to a close, global leaders on Friday said the economy and trade appeared to be moving towards normalisation but were yet expected to be far from normal. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the global trade was weak in 2023 before seeing an uptick in the last quarter. "We have been more optimistic about 2024, and I feel, we are moving towards normalisation, but I still don't see it returning to a normal fully," she said at a panel discussion on 'The global economic outlook' on the last day of the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 here. "There are so many uncertainties, and there also so many elections around the world, making it difficult to predict anything," she added. The WTO chief said she would still expect trade growth to be better than in 2024 unless a major war breaks out. She said there are some bright shoots on the trade front, and the trade has been the force for resilience. The WTO chief also said it is politically diffic

India-US forum to discuss import monitoring system for laptops, PCs

The US has sought clarification once again even as India cited national security concerns as a rationale behind its August 2023 decision

India strongly objects to pushing talks on investment facilitation at WTO

India has strongly objected to efforts of certain countries to push a proposal on investment facilitation at the WTO, saying the agenda falls outside the mandate of the global trade body and cannot be deliberated in formal meetings. According to the statement of the Indian delegation in a meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), held during December 13-15, negotiation on investment does not belong to the WTO. "I would like to reiterate that Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD), which supposedly facilitated investment, did not pertain to multilateral trade relations. Investment per se is not trade," the statement said. It added that investment covers a wide range of assets or enterprises subject to a separate universe of obligations. "The negative mandate did not allow the Members, desirous of IFD, to pursue it in a multilateral forum upon a consensus," the statement said. It added that certain members began an informal process that did not hav

India faces queries from WTO on PMGKAY extension and rice export ban

Countries, including the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand, are seeking clarity on the expiry dates of India's export restrictions and duties

Recalibrating SEZs in DESH Bill: Net foreign exchange criterion may return

The announcement of the DESH Bill was made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget in February 2022

Centre extends RoDTEP scheme till June 30 amid faltering exports

The scheme has now been extended until 30 June at the same rates for the existing export items

India, Brazil begin talks to resolve sugar related trade dispute at WTO

India and Brazil have started talks to mutually resolve a sugar related trade dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as part of the solution the South American nation may share ethanol production technology with New Delhi, an official said. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane and ethanol in the world. It is also a leader in the technology used for ethanol production. "Few rounds of talks have been held as part of our efforts to resolve the dispute. We have also held inter-ministerial meetings here. Brazil is saying that they will share with us technology for ethanol (production). It is a positive thing," the official said. Ethanol is used to blend with oil to power vehicles. Use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agri produce, will help the world's third largest oil consumer and importing country cut its reliance on overseas shipments. India currently is 85 per cent dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs. Also, it cuts ..

India, EU officials to discuss New Delhi's concerns over carbon border levy

India and the EU established a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) last year, the trade bloc is prepared to engage with India on potential challenges the latter could face due to CBAM's implementation

WTO in survival mode pushes back on splintering the global trade

The WTO estimates that the cost of splitting the world trade system into separate blocs would be about 5 per cent of real income at the global level

Computer import curbs not part of FTP Principles of Restrictions

The duty rates on computer software and hardware were cut to zero after India became a signatory to the Information Technology Agreements (ITA-1 and ITA-2) at the World Trade Organisation

India, China question European Union's unilateral trade policy measures

Certain 'irritants' preventing from achieving full potential of trade: India

Predominantly digital exports fuel India's services trade, shows data

Segment accounts for over 15 per cent of total goods and services exports for India, others

US, India withdraw 6 trade disputes: Will this bonhomie sustain over time?

India and the US, despite their robust diplomatic ties, have quibbled on trade issues over the years and across administrations

WTO flags poor utilisation of India scheme for least developed countries

85% of 11,000 products offered at zero tariff remains unutilised

Global trade indicates possible turnaround in second quarter of 2023: WTO

Global goods trade is expected to witness a turnaround in the second quarter of this year due to a recent pickup in export orders, the WTO said on Wednesday. According to the WTO's Goods Trade Barometer, preliminary data suggest that trade remained depressed in the first quarter of 2023. "But the recent pickup in export orders points to an increase in demand for traded goods in the second quarter," it added. These results are broadly consistent with the WTO's most recent trade forecast issued on April 5, which projects 1.7 per cent growth in world merchandise trade in 2023. The WTO's (World Trade Organisation) expectation augurs well for India, which is struggling to push its outbound shipments. India's exports contracted by 12.7 per cent, the third month in a row, to USD 34.66 billion in April even as the trade deficit reduced to a 20-month low of USD 15.24 billion, the government data showed.

Centre asks industry to be ready for EU carbon tax, vows smooth transition

The carbon tax aims to impose a tax on goods imported into the EU from regions where production-stage carbon emissions are higher than those allowed by the mechanism's rules

MOOWR scheme made less attractive

Most manufacturers were reluctant to opt for the MOOWR scheme instead of well-established EOU/SEZ/EPCG schemes. Now, even some MOOWR units may opt out of the scheme and go for the competing schemes

ICT levy dispute at WTO: EU may opt for retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods

The EU had earlier approached India to resolve the matter through the MPIA