Piyush Goyal’s strong message to world: India pushes core trade issues, blocks IFDA at WTO

At the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (#MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s firm stance on protecting WTO’s core mandate. India successfully blocked the China-backed Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) from being incorporated into the WTO framework, while emphasising the need for safeguards before plurilateral agreements. The minister stressed that WTO reforms should focus on trade, preserve developing nations’ policy space, and uphold Special & Differential Treatment (S&DT).