India to back WTO reform, safeguard farm interests at 14th ministerial conference

New Delhi: India will emphasise the importance of respecting the multilateral mandate of the World Trade Organization (WTO), prioritising food security, safeguarding the livelihoods of small farmers and fishers, and ensuring adequate policy space for developing economies, particularly in emerging areas such as digital trade, and supports initiatives that facilitate investment flows into developing countries at the 14th ministerial conference (MC14) set to be in Yaounde, Cameroon from March 26-29, the government said Wednesday.

India's Free Trade Agreements remain aligned with WTO principles and reflect its commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. Several FTA negotiations are currently underway with partner countries, it said, adding that India has also been actively advancing its bilateral trade engagements.

The agenda for discussion include WTO reform, the E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium, Investment Facilitation for Development, fisheries subsidies, and issues related to agriculture and development, it added.


New Delhi has sought a permanent solution on Public Stockholding for food security, effective Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) provisions for developing countries and least developed countries, and the restoration of dispute settlement mechanism.