GENEVA: The pandemic, WTO’s response to it, impact of the Ukraine-Russia war and the subsequent food scarcity have been the dominant theme at the 12th ministerial conference. TOI scanned through ministerial statements to identify the key issues flagged by some of India’s major trading partners. . .
› Brazil: Health plan should cover other diseases |
Brazilian foreign affairs minister Carlos Alberto Franco França has demanded a response to pandemic and public health, including for diseases that are neglected in developing countries, in a pitch to extend the package to other diseases.
Brazil is seeking a mechanism to stabilise food markets, a deal on fisheries subsidies and restoration of the dispute settlement mechanism, blocked by the US. It wants WTO backing for agreements on services, investment and e-commerce that are being negotiated by a group of countries, which will not be to India’s liking.
› China: Protect developing nations’ rights |
Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao has said that Beijing will forego the flexibility under TRIPS waiver plan for Covid-19 vaccines if its concerns are met. While seeking reforms in the “right direction”, including restoring the WTO dispute mechanism, up-to-date rules on agriculture, services and investment, China has underlined the need to protect interests of developing countries. It has also said that the new rules should not benefit a few and wants steps to support speedier global recovery.
› EU demands new rules for farm trade, WTO reforms |
The European Union demanded an overhaul of rules for agriculture, including trade-distorting sops, public stockholding and transparency — issues on which India has a different take.
European Commission executive VP Valdis Dombrovskis peppered his intervention with repeated references to sustainability and climate change and a 21st century rulebook, which is seen as a reference to new issues being brought in, again a con- cern for India. Although EU is the main stumbling block on the TRIPS waiver plan, it pushed for a decision on the compromise draft, and also on fisheries subsidies.
› S Africa seeks flexibility on food, pharma |
South African trade minister Ebrahim Patel has highlighted the need for a development agenda, while making it clear the choice is between shutting borders and more flexible intellectual property rules and waivers during pandemics. Pointing to supply disruptions, he sought policy space to encourage local production of food and healthcare products. The African nation also called for correcting problematic aspects of WTO rules on farm and industrial goods.
› US seeks rules for digital economy |
Citing higher digitisation and work-fromhome policies in large parts of the world due to the pandemic, US trade representative Katherine Tai has pitched for rules for the digital economy to aid economic recovery. Over the last few years, the US has been pushing for international e-commerce norms. While backing easing patent rules for Covid vaccines, she reiterated the need for countries to exempt export restrictions on the World Food Programme and argued that the US is the largest donor.