WTO talks end without agreement on agriculture and fisheries in Abu Dhabi Loktej World News

Abu Dhabi, March 02 (HS). The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remained inconclusive. The WTO summit held in Abu Dhabi concluded late Friday night without a consensus on several key issues such as agriculture and fisheries despite an extra day of talks and intensive efforts. However, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India has maintained its overall policy to pursue the interests of its farmers and fishermen at the highest level.

In this WTO conference held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates, no decision was taken on many issues like finding a permanent solution to public food stocks and curbing fisheries subsidies. India, the US, the EU and other members were unable to reach a consensus on these crucial issues, leaving it without any consensus. However, the member countries agreed to extend the moratorium on imposing import duty on e-commerce for two more years.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in the press conference after the conference that this is a good result and we are completely satisfied. Progress has been made on many controversial issues. Negotiations on these matters have been ongoing for many years, but progress is always a sign of reaching a conclusion. Goyal said that India has asked for measures like amendment in the formula for calculating food subsidy limit as part of a permanent solution. He said that procurement of food grains in New Delhi for distribution among the poor continues uninterrupted and without any hindrance.

It is noteworthy that despite the four-day hectic talks being extended by one more day, the 166-member World Trade Organization could not reach a consensus to resolve issues like food security. However, the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference succeeded in achieving results in some other cases. This includes a new regime on domestic regulation of services, the formal admission of Comoros and Timor-Leste as new WTO members, and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) continuing to enjoy LDC status three years after exiting the WTO. Accommodation is included.