New Delhi, July 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India reaffirmed its commitment to an open, transparent and WTO‑consistent multilateral trade regime at the country’s Eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR), which concluded on Thursday at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
In his closing statement to the WTO Membership, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted India’s commitment to an open, transparent and predictable trade and investment regime. He underlined that India’s tariff reforms, customs simplification measures and ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) strategy have steadily strengthened the country’s integration with the global economy while supporting domestic development objectives. He also emphasised that India remains a major engine of global demand, according to a Commerce Ministry statement.
The Trade Policy Review is a key transparency and monitoring mechanism of the WTO under which Members’ trade and related policies are periodically examined to enhance transparency, strengthen adherence to WTO rules and facilitate constructive dialogue among Members.
Responding to issues raised by Members, the Commerce Secretary reiterated that India’s trade policies are guided by WTO‑consistent principles while balancing the developmental needs of a large developing economy. He emphasised that India’s agricultural tariff structure is designed to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of small, low‑income and resource‑poor farmers, ensuring fairness and equity, while industrial tariffs support supply chain resilience, diversification and domestic manufacturing capabilities in an evolving global economic environment, the statement said.
On sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical regulations and trade remedies, the Commerce Secretary reaffirmed India’s commitment to transparency, stakeholder consultations and adherence to WTO rules. He noted that India’s Quality Control Orders are intended to achieve legitimate public policy objectives, while trade remedy investigations are conducted transparently, based on objective evidence, due process and judicial oversight. He further highlighted that the overall trade coverage of India’s trade remedy measures remains limited and that India continues to apply the Lesser Duty Rule in its anti‑dumping framework.
On WTO reform, the Commerce Secretary reiterated India’s strong commitment to an open, inclusive, transparent and rules‑based multilateral trading system. He emphasised that WTO reform should remain development‑oriented, preserve policy space for developing countries, strengthen the Organisation’s credibility and deliver on existing mandates. India also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging constructively with all Members to strengthen the multilateral trading system while preserving the foundational principles of the WTO.
During the review, India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO Members. During the two review sessions held on 21 and 23 July 2026, 68 WTO Members made interventions, reflecting growing global interest in India’s economic transformation and its role in the multilateral trading system.
Several Members recalled the value of their trade and economic relationship with India and broadly appreciated India’s constructive engagement in the multilateral trading system and its strong economic resilience.
Members also highlighted India’s achievements in Digital Public Infrastructure, customs and trade facilitation modernisation, innovation and startup initiatives, expansion of regional trade agreements and efforts to integrate MSMEs into global value chains. They also welcomed India’s acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
In his closing remarks, Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil observed that at a time of heightened global uncertainty, many Members expressed the expectation that India would continue to act as a bridge‑builder by promoting dialogue, fostering consensus and strengthening a rules‑based, inclusive and resilient multilateral trading system. He underscored India’s unique position as a leading voice of the Global South and its important role in bridging differences among Members to advance collective action within the WTO.
Overall, India’s Eighth Trade Policy Review concluded on a positive note, underscoring the country’s growing importance in the multilateral trading system and Members’ expectation that India will continue to play a central role in strengthening and shaping the future of the rules‑based global trading system, the statement added.
Source: IANS
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