India, Oman, South Africa submit work plan on WTO reforms

New Delhi: India, Oman and South Africa Sunday proposed a post-MC14 Work Plan covering issues of decision-making, development and special and differential treatment (S&DT) and Level Playing Field Issues at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In the draft Yaounde Ministerial Declaration on WTO Reform, they proposed that consultations on dispute settlement reform, under the auspices of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), should continue following MC14 and should report to the General Council as per the aforementioned indicative timelines and checkpoints.

These timelines pertain to work resuming in April 2026, progress reports to the General Council to be provided in July and December 2026 and 2027, with senior officials participating as necessary.


“Ministers will conduct a midway review ahead of MC15. The first phase of post-MC14 work will include a stocktaking across identified areas to establish a shared factual baseline. The mid-term review will assess whether outputs are balanced across all areas and whether the process has been conducted in accordance with the principles set out above,” the three countries said as the MC14 of the WTO is about to conclude.

They acknowledged that the WTO faces challenges that require necessary reform.

“While we hold differing views on the challenges and solutions, we commit to work urgently and in good faith following MC14 to advance reforms, recalling the progress and outcomes of MC12 and MC13,” the said.