The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between countries. India is one of the founding members of the WTO and has actively participated in the negotiations of various agreements under the organization.
India joined the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor of the WTO, in 1948. After the establishment of the WTO in 1995, India continued to participate in the multilateral trade negotiations and has been a strong advocate of developing countries’ interests in the global trading system.
India’s engagement with the WTO has been characterized by its commitment to multilateralism, the promotion of free trade, and the protection of the interests of developing countries. India has been a vocal advocate for the reform of the global trading system to make it more inclusive and fair for developing countries.
India’s participation in the WTO has also helped it to integrate into the global trading system and to benefit from the increased market access and export opportunities provided by the organization. The WTO has also played a significant role in helping India to resolve disputes with other countries over trade-related issues.
However, India has also had some contentious issues with the WTO. One of the key issues has been the developed countries’ agricultural subsidies, which India argues distort global agricultural markets and disadvantage developing countries’ farmers. India has also been critical of the developed countries’ protectionist measures, such as the imposition of non-tariff barriers, which it claims limit developing countries’ access to developed countries’ markets.
In recent years, India has been actively engaged in the negotiations for the Doha Development Agenda, which aims to promote the development of developing countries through trade. However, progress on the negotiations has been slow, and the future of the multilateral trading system remains uncertain.
Overall, India’s engagement with the WTO reflects its commitment to multilateralism, free trade, and the promotion of the interests of developing countries. While there have been some contentious issues, the organization has played an important role in helping India to integrate into the global trading system and to benefit from the increased market access and export opportunities provided by the organization.