Gone are the days, when India could be arm-twisted to accept outcomes that hurt the poor, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal underscored while sharing that India has been able to secure a favourable outcome at the WTO after many years.
Goyal termed the just concluded WTO 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva as an “outcome oriented” success, adding that the Indian delegation, guided constantly by the PM Narendra Modi, has been 100 per cent successful in portraying before the world the priority issues for India and the developing world.
“Few countries attempted to create false campaign, initially on Sunday and Monday, that India is obstinate due to which no progress is being made. The real situation has emerged before us all, the issues raised by India, on which Prime Minister had asked us to focus upon, now the whole world acknowledges that was the correct agenda and ultimately India played a vital role in arriving at all solutions,” Goyal said in a press conference in Geneva.
Calling it a proud day for 135 crore Indians at the WTO, the minister said India took the lead and was at the center of the conference.
“There is no issue on which we have to be the least concerned, whether it is related to Agriculture such as MSP, reinforcing the relevance of the Public Stockholding Programme towards fulfilling the National Food Safety Programme or PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, TRIPS Waiver, e-Commerce moratorium, response to covid and fisheries,” said Goyal.
Further, there have been no restrictions on fishing that our fishermen were deeply concerned about.
He further clarified that India remains committed to supporting the World Food Programme (WFP). Citing the country’s recent wheat supplies to Afghanistan, he said the Government has imposed no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries.
Outcomes at the WTO Meeting
On fisheries, there would be a check on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters and elsewhere. There would be very strict controls on overfished areas so that fish stocks are restored. No subsidies to be given for fishing in areas outside EEZ or RFMOs.
- The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) decision will boost export, vaccine equity, accessibility & affordability. A country can authorise production of vaccines patented elsewhere and there would be no consent required as well as there would be no limit on exports. A decision on Diagnostics/Therapeutics would be taken in 6 months.
- The agenda decided on WTO reforms will make the WTO a more efficient, agile body. The dispute settlement body will be revived and play its expected role in settling trade disputes.
- On e-Commerce, while agreeing to the temporary moratorium, India asked for intensifying discussions on the moratorium including on its scope, definition and impact for taking an informed decision on the same.
- The Food Security Declaration focuses on making food available in developing countries while working towards increasing productivity and production.
- As regards the World Food Programme (WFP), there would be no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; However, domestic food security will take priority.
