Gone are the days, when India could be arm-twisted to accept outcomes that hurt the poor: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

India has stood strong for its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), farmers and fishermen and the voice of the poor and the vulnerable has got strengthened globally by India's stand at the WTO, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said. 

Goyal says India was at the center of World Trade Orgnisation (WTO) negotiations and  India's firm stamp is visible in the outcome of every WTO meeting.

India’s efforts to bring Members on the table to discuss issues irrespective of the existing geopolitical order has ensured benefit for world’s masses, the Union Minister further said. India, which is the sixth largest economy in the world not only raised its own issues but raised the issues of other developing countries, LDCs, poor and vulnerable with great sensitivity, the minister said.

Terming the just concluded MC12 as an “outcome oriented” success, Commerce, Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, said the Indian delegation, guided constantly by PM Modi, has been 100% successful in portraying before the world the priority issues for India and the developing world.

India has been able to secure a favourable outcome at the WTO after many years, despite a strong global campaign against our farmers and fishermen.

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Outcomes at the WTO MC 12 Meeting

- On fisheries, there would be a check on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters and elsewhere. There would be very strict controls on overfished areas so that fish stocks are restored. Additionally, no subsidies to be provided for fishing in areas outside EEZ or RFMOs

- The TRIPS decision will boost export, vaccine equity, accessibility & affordability. A country can authorize production of vaccines patented elsewhere and there would be no consent required as well as there would be no limit on exports. A decision on Diagnostics/Therapeutics would be taken in 6 months. There would be faster pandemic response in future and there would be fewer trade barriers in pandemics

- The agenda decided on WTO reforms will make the WTO a more efficient, agile body. The dispute settlement body will be revived and play its expected role in settling trade disputes. The reform would deliver better trade outcomes for developing countries. A reference to Gender, Environment & MSME has been made in the WTO reform agenda. 

- On e-Commerce, while agreeing to the temporary moratorium, India asked for intensifying discussions on the moratorium including on its scope, definition and impact for taking an informed decision on the same.

- The Food Security Declaration, focusses on making food available in developing countries while working towards increasing productivity and production 

- As regards, the World Food Programme (WFP), there would be no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; However, domestic food security will take priority. 

- “Few countries attempted to create false campaign, initially on Sunday and Monday, that India is obstinate due to which no progress is being made. The real situation has emerged before us all, the issues raised by India, on which Prime Minister had asked us to focus upon, now the whole world acknowledges that was the correct agenda and ultimately India played a vital role in arriving at all solutions,” Goyal told a press conference in Geneva.

- Goyal said India’s motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ echoes in the WTO, India not only raised its issues but raised the issues of other developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), poor & vulnerable with sensitivity and fought bravely for their cause.