3. WTO Briefly
The only global international organization dealing with the rules of
trade between nations.
Goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and
importers conduct their business.
Acts as a public forum for trade negotiations, administers the trade
agreements, settles various trade disputes and cooperate with other
international organizations with respect to trade.
All the decisions are taken up by the entire membership
unanimously through consensus.
4. WTO Facts
● Established on 1 January 1995
● ITO (1947) GATT (1948 - 94) WTO (1995 - Present)
● Created by Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94) of GATT
● 164 member countries as on 29 July 2016
● Headquarter at Geneva, Switzerland
● Current Head is Roberto Azevêdo
5. Ministerial Conferences
The topmost decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial
Conference.
It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries
or customs unions.
The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under
any of the multilateral trade agreements.
It usually meets every two years.
6. Doha Development Agenda - 2001
Developing Countries
● TRIPS vs Public Health
● Agricultural Subsidies
● Differential, Preferential,
Special Treatment
● Labour Issues (excluded)
Developed Countries
● New Issues
● Reduction of Industrial
Goods Tariffs
● Environmental Issues
8. Bali MC - 2013
● Bali Peace Clause - A Major takeaway for India.
● India's tariff hikes on pulse imports questioned.
9. Nairobi MC - 2015
● An agreement on the elimination of agricultural export subsidies.
● Agreement on another package to protect state-sponsored
initiatives so that do not interfere with local food security
initiatives.
● Eliminate all forms of export subsidies provided to cotton farmers
in rich countries.
10.
11. India’s Expectations
● Public Stockholding (Agreement on Agriculture - Domestic
Support).
● Permanent solution for Bali Peace Clause.
13. India’s Stand on e-Commerce
● Submitted a formal document opposing any negotiations on
e-commerce
● Continue the work under the Work Programme on electronic
commerce based on the existing mandate and guidelines but not in
favour of doing anything beyond the work programme of 1998.
14. India’s Stand on Investment Facilitation
2017: Opposed the demand for a separate group on investment facilitation
as there is no existing mandate for it.
2018: India may drop opposition to investment facilitation treaty.
“If the proposed deal is about sharing information and facilitation of
investment, then it may not be problematic for India since we anyway
have opened up most of our sectors for FDI”
- Minister of Commerce, Govt. of India
15. India’s Stand on MSMEs
● It might curtain the country’s space for policy making.
WTO’s argument:
● Employees for MSMEs comprise the majority of the
workforce in most countries.
● Contribution to GDP at around 35% in developing countries
and roughly 50% in developed countries.
17. Fishery Subsidies
● No agreement on interim solution for banning IUU fishing.
● No immediate cut on fishery subsidies for Indian Fishermen.
● More time to safeguard interests of Indian Fishermen.
18. Joint Declaration on Women Economic
Empowerment
● Supported by 119 member nations BUT!
20. References
● www.wto.org
● e-Newspapers
○ Economic Times
○ The Hindu Business Line
○ LiveMint
○ The Wire
○ Business Insider
● www.commerce.gov.in
● Youtube
○ Rajya Sabha TV
○ Online GS
○ Neoias
○ Saar Concept
○ BigPicTV
