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Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Case for reviving multilaterialism, a WTO-led order
The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration of September 2023 reaffirmed the indispensability of 'a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core'. This was reiterated in 2024 during Brazil's G20 presidency. India's negotiating focus has shifted to bilateral agremeents. While equally important, these are no substitute for multilateral rules. (AFP) The 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference is scheduled for March 2026 at Yaounde, Cameroon. As a precursor, the WTO director-general met with ministers and high-level officials from nearly 30 WTO members, including India, the US, Australia, China, the EU and Brazil, earlier this month in Paris. The inconclusive end to this meeting foretells further undermining of a beleaguered WTO. The US's disregard for multilateral rules is one of the key reasons for the deadlock, but that does not let the 165 other member-countries of the WTO off the hook. They too shoulder a significant share of the responsibility for the WTO's fate as well. A key question for India and other countries is whether the rules of WTO are worth preserving despite the unpredictability of the US's actions. There are several reasons why they are. It is true that WTO rules are far from perfect and need reforms. Yet, however imperfect, a multilateral system of rules is the only logical safeguard against arbitrary action by any one country. The emergence of WTO in 1995 complemented India's liberalisation and economic growth. Domestic reform and liberalisation could thrive because of the global stability, certainty, and predictability that WTO rules provided. WTO's state of disarray can be attributed to several reasons, primary among which is the dysfunctional state of its dispute settlement mechanism since 2019, resulting from the US blocking appointment of members to the appellate body. Underpinning this is the US's desire to wrench back political control over a judicial process. Efforts to get the US to agree to a more streamlined appellate process have failed. India has highlighted the importance of a two-tier system; but to break the deadlock, we need to consider possible alternatives, including a two-tier system for all willing WTO members and a single-tier system only for disputes where the US is a party. The second set of challenges at the WTO is a series of long-pending issues. A key pending issue is reform in the agricultural rules. This includes constraints India has faced with domestic support for agricultural products. Limited to 10% of the value of production of an agricultural product under the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), India's domestic support entitlement is in stark contrast to the much higher AoA entitlements that is available for developed countries including the US, the EU, Japan, and Canada. India successfully negotiated the Bali Peace Clause in 2013, aimed at partially addressing this historical asymmetry. However, this was only a temporary reprieve that is yet to be translated into a firm commitment. Reform is also pending on other related issues, including removal of an absurd external reference price which has remained frozen at 1986-88 prices — completely devoid of current economic realities. Prioritising reform of these rules is important. Development of new rules across a range of emerging areas is another key challenge. Such areas include digital trade and e-commerce and trade & environmental sustainability (TES) — both of which are critical for India, given our national priorities. These are currently part of splinter-group discussions within the WTO, called joint initiatives (JIs). The e-commerce JI has 90 WTO members, the TES has 78, and both groups include the US, the EU, China, Australia, Canada, and Japan, among others. The e-commerce JI deals with elements that will have relevance for India's evolving strength in digital trade. With countries, including the US, threatening various unilateral measures, disciplines in this area need deeper engagement. The TES discussions will have significant relevance for rules on interface of trade and the climate crisis, an area where there is a rapid rise of unilateral measures, especially those adopted by the EU, and the threat of similar measures by others including the US and Canada. JIs emerged as a response to challenges in driving consensus among 166 members. The first JI to conclude was on services domestic regulation (SDR), between 72 members. India had been an active participant of SDR given its centrality to India's burgeoning services trade. However, when discussions moved from the multilateral forum to the JI, India stayed out of SDR as well as all other JIs, the concern being that such fragmented rulemaking would undermine WTO's multilateral architecture. The reality since 2017, however, is that WTO's negotiating function has predominantly rested on JIs, with some, such as the JI on investment facilitation for development (IFD), having support of as many as 126 members. It is ironic that the reason that JIs have remained JIs is because of the choice of some members not to engage. And it is only the ones that have stayed out, including India, that stand to lose any possibility to influence the shape and content of new rules. India's negotiating focus has shifted to bilateral agreements. While equally important, these are no substitute for multilateral rules, and, in fact, would even be severely undermined by lack of multilateral rules. It is time to reinvigorate our vision for the WTO. Any aspiration to be a true vishwaguru hinges on our ability to have a proactive and forward-looking agenda as a global player while doing all that it takes to strengthen from within. RV Anuradha is partner, Clarus Law Associates, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India for addressing asymmetries in cotton sector between developing, developed nations at WTO
India has stated that cotton is a sensitive domestic issue and pitched for addressing the long-standing asymmetries in the sector between developing and developed members of the World Trade Organisation, according to a WTO note. According to the report of the chairperson of the WTO's committee on agriculture, India has reaffirmed the need to deliver on long-standing mandates, including finding a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding of foodgrains, special safeguard mechanism and cotton, particularly in view of the forthcoming Ministerial Conference (MC) being hosted by Cameroon. MC is the highest decision-making body of the WTO. Its 14th meeting is scheduled for March 26-29 next year in Cameroon. "India emphasised that cotton was an important and sensitive matter domestically with a situation similar to that of some of the other cotton-producing countries in terms of farmers' vulnerabilities since cotton is grown in arid areas by small and marginal farmers," it said. The country has underscored the importance of addressing the long-standing asymmetries in the cotton sector between developing and developed members with regard to their respective entitlements to the aggregate measurement of support beyond the de minimis level.
Egypt Today
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt hosts 2nd Ministerial Conference of Khartoum Process to combat migrant smuggling, human trafficking
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday opens the second Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process in Cairo, 9 April 2025 - Cabinet CAIRO – 9 April 2025: Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday opened the second Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process in Cairo, aimed at combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking. Egypt has presided over the process since April 2024 with the aim of coordinating international efforts and addressing migration issues between the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa. The opening session featured participation from European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, Acting Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport at the African Union Angela Martins, and Director General of the Vienna-based International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Michael Spindelegger. Representatives from nearly 50 countries in Europe and the Horn of Africa also participated in the event, alongside regional and international partner organizations. In his opening remarks, Abdelatty highlighted the Khartoum Process Ministerial Conference as a unique platform for political cooperation, aiming to achieve tangible results through dialogue, knowledge exchange, and support in key migration areas. He emphasized that Egypt's chairmanship of the Khartoum Process twice in ten years reflects the country's steadfast commitment to the principles of the process. Through this presidency, Egypt sought to push the work of Khartoum Process towards broader and more ambitious horizons, he said. Abdelatty stressed Egypt's belief that addressing migration, particularly illegal migration, must be based on a comprehensive vision and approach rooted in equitable cooperation, practical solidarity, and respect for human dignity. This approach must consider both the security and developmental aspects of migration, addresses its root causes, and adheres to the principle of burden and responsibility-sharing to enhance the resilience of host communities. Additionally, Abdelatty highlighted the achievements of Egypt's presidency of the process over the past year, emphasizing the Egyptian efforts to build on previous successes while responding to new challenges. He outlined the priorities of the Egyptian presidency, which include supporting regular migration pathways, enhancing labor mobility and skill development, and linking these to sustainable development initiatives. The foreign minister underscored Egypt's significant focus on integrating humanitarian and developmental dimensions in addressing displacement crises, as well as the growing relationship between climate change, migration, and displacement. Abdelatty showcased Egypt's ongoing efforts in the migration dossier, noting that the country is home to over 10 million foreigners, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from 133 countries. He affirmed that Egypt provides those guests with freedom of movement and access to all services akin to those available to Egyptian citizens, despite the increase in the number of new foreign arrivals. The foreign minister underlined Egypt's commitment to combating illegal migration through a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes, promotes legal pathways, supports inclusive sustainable development, enhances border management, and raises public awareness. He stressed the importance of international cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing migration challenges within a collective framework.
Russia Today
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
African state interested in nuclear cooperation with Russia
Namibia considers Russia a reliable partner and is interested in cooperating with it in a variety of fields, including nuclear energy, the vice chancellor of the University of Namibia (UNAM) has stated, according to the African Initiative news agency. Frednard Gideon reportedly made the remarks at the 'Russia-Africa: Nuclear Education—Potential for Successful Regional Development' forum, which took place on Friday at Peoples' Friendship University (RUDN) in Moscow. 'Namibia is the world's fourth-largest producer of uranium. We started mining it in 1976. Uranium is produced, but it is immediately exported. Many foreigners come to Africa and take everything,' Gideon is quoted as saying. 'Russia is a reliable and equal partner. That is why we are interested in cooperation,' the Vice Chancellor added. The Southern African country and Moscow established diplomatic relations on March 21, 1990, and have since developed cooperation in the political, economic, trade, and humanitarian spheres. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced following talks with his Namibian counterpart Peya Mushelenga last March that the two countries are aiming to boost trade and investment in various sectors. Lavrov highlighted opportunities for cooperation in mineral resources, energy, agriculture, tourism, and healthcare. In November, Mushelenga told RT on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum that a joint technical team has been set up to explore geophysics and geochemistry in order to unearth some potential minerals. Namibia. Russia's presence in Africa has grown in recent years, with several countries referring to Moscow as a trustworthy ally, despite accusations from some Western governments, including France, that the Kremlin is pursuing a predatory agenda on the continent. On February 19, the Russian government announced an agreement with Ethiopia to develop cooperation in the use of nuclear technology for 'peaceful purposes.' Speaking at the nuclear education forum on Friday, South African lawyer Nkazimulo Moyeni said, 'Russia remains a reliable partner that shares technology and knowledge.' 'The topic of nuclear energy is stigmatized. We must show that it is not only a weapon but also a tool for peaceful development that can save lives and improve the quality of life for people across the African continent,' Moyeni said. The event, organized by RUDN and the Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom, has been taking place since 2020 and aims to promote nuclear education in partner countries, as well as increase interest and trust in nuclear technology.
