Moving forward at WTO

India needs to recalibrate its negotiating positions at the multilateral forum

- AMITA BATRA

Earlier this month, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that the “status quo is not an option” anymore for the multilateral organisation.

Her statement makes it clear that reforms ofthe WTOwill dominate the agenda ofthe 14th Ministerial Conference(MC-14) tobeheld nextmonthin Yaounde, Cameroon. This is reinforced by the fact that this month, starting February 5, has been designated as thereform monthatthe WTO. Membersare expected to come up a work plan to guide the reform process following MC-14, which is the highest decision-making body ofthe WTO, comprisingtrade ministersofmember nations, and meets every two years.

Among the immediate triggers for WTO reforms is the ecommerce moratorium on the imposition of Customs duties on electronic transmission, which is due to expire with the conclusion of MC-14. A majority of WTO members are seeking a permanent moratorium, arguing that it offers predictability for the digital economy. The other matter ofimmediatecon-cern is the integration of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), sought by an overwhelming majority of members, in the rulebook of the WTO through Annex 4 of the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement. A common obstruction to achieving success on both issuesis derived from the objection to plurilateral agreements and the consensus-based decision-making process atthe WTO.