Geneva: Ministerial meeting has been extended by one more day. world trade organization Director-General Ngoji Okonjo-Iwela held a meeting with a select group of countries on Wednesday to identify issue-wise concerns and find a solution, amid signs that some tradeoffs are possible.
For example, India could agree to a patent waiver for a vaccine in the ministerial outcome if medical science and equipment also gets TRIPS flexibility over the next six months, an issue Switzerland is still protesting. But, India is working with South Africa, which was a co-sponsor of the proposal, to seek a better outcome as the talks enter the domestic phase.
A limited deal on fisheries subsidies to check illegal, unreported and unregulated is on the table as negotiators downplay ambitions on a full package. Similarly, on agriculture, tougher Sri Lanka, Egypt and India may force developed countries to agree to government-to-government grain sales from public stock such as FCI. Rich nations are demanding a text that provides exemptions from export restrictions world food program, However, it is not clear how the commerce and industry minister sees a key demand from India – a permanent solution to issues related to its MSP called public stockholding – will be addressed. Piyush Goyal The US has sought to reiterate this in the outcome document and the US has suggested that a decision on the issue be taken by the next ministerial level.
India has also stressed that the WTO should not give any legitimacy to talks on services and investment, which are taking place among a group of countries and have not been accepted by all members.
For example, India could agree to a patent waiver for a vaccine in the ministerial outcome if medical science and equipment also gets TRIPS flexibility over the next six months, an issue Switzerland is still protesting. But, India is working with South Africa, which was a co-sponsor of the proposal, to seek a better outcome as the talks enter the domestic phase.
A limited deal on fisheries subsidies to check illegal, unreported and unregulated is on the table as negotiators downplay ambitions on a full package. Similarly, on agriculture, tougher Sri Lanka, Egypt and India may force developed countries to agree to government-to-government grain sales from public stock such as FCI. Rich nations are demanding a text that provides exemptions from export restrictions world food program, However, it is not clear how the commerce and industry minister sees a key demand from India – a permanent solution to issues related to its MSP called public stockholding – will be addressed. Piyush Goyal The US has sought to reiterate this in the outcome document and the US has suggested that a decision on the issue be taken by the next ministerial level.
India has also stressed that the WTO should not give any legitimacy to talks on services and investment, which are taking place among a group of countries and have not been accepted by all members.