India Pushes Back on WTO Agriculture Negotiation Process

India raised concerns about the facilitator-led process in WTO agriculture negotiations, arguing it could undermine ministerial mandates. Emphasizing transparency and inclusiveness, India stressed the importance of addressing public stockholding, special safeguard mechanism, and cotton issues separately from broader discussions.

In a recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Geneva, India voiced strong objections to the proposed facilitator-led process for agricultural negotiations. The country contends that this approach might jeopardize existing ministerial mandates, potentially regressing the progress achieved in negotiations thus far.

The meeting, which brought together Heads of Delegation (HoDs), focused on critical agricultural issues like public stockholding, special safeguard mechanisms, and cotton-related matters. India emphasized the necessity of tackling these topics through dedicated sessions, separate from wider agricultural talks.

Despite Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's assurance that the facilitator-led process aims to forward the negotiation agenda, India remains skeptical. Concerns about transparency, neutrality, and inclusivity in the process persist. Meanwhile, Chad, representing the African Group, echoed India's apprehensions and called for a strategy prioritizing developing nations dealing with food crises.

(With inputs from agencies.)