World Trade Organisation

Investment facilitation for development or trouble?

Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, and Italy pulled out of the Energy Charter Treaty last year to stave off the ISDS mechanism

Exports up 4.8% to $35.45 billion days after initial data showed a dip

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has also painted a grim picture for the outlook of global trade next year amid fears of a recession

India opposes group consultation on food subsidies programme at WTO

The members had expressed concern with India's "lack of full transparency" in taking recourse to the Bali Decision as well as in replies to certain questions raised in the Agri Committee

Govt considering forming units to build expertise in Free Trade Agreements

The objective of building dedicated units in the FTA areas is to enable India to negotiate deals with other nations at the World Trade Organization from a position of strength

WTO warns 'darkened' trade outlook could deteriorate further in 2023

The World Trade Organisation is predicting global trade volumes will grow a lackluster 1% next year as crises and challenges weigh on markets, including high energy prices, rising interest rates and uncertainties about Chinese manufacturing output amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. The Geneva-based trade body said Wednesday that the amount of goods shipped between countries are expected to rise 3.5% this year, up from the 3% that WTO anticipated in its first forecast for the year in April. In 2023, the prediction is for such trade volumes to grow just 1%, down from the 3.4% expected previously. The risks are certainly to the downside next year, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters at its headquarters. This year, the higher predicted increase in trade volumes stems from better data that arrived in the middle of the year, contributing to a clearer forecast, and a boom in trade volumes from oil- and gas-producing countries in the Middle East as supplies from Russ

Hotels, tour operators shed Covid baggage as Diwali promises to sparkle

Group tours at 65-70% of pre-pandemic levels; Southeast Asia, Egypt, and Turkey seeing maximum demand

Hold talks to extend TRIPS waiver to Covid diagnostics: Piyush Goyal to G20

Goyal said if multilateralism was imperilled, the world will not be left with many fora to promote dialogue and diplomacy

Commerce ministry issues norms for engaging consultants

The terms of reference for engagements shall include the functions to be performed and the outputs to be delivered

Top Headlines: Inflation impact on India Inc profit, new SEZ law, and more

The early-bird results for the April-June 2022 quarter hinted at a decline in earnings, even as corporate revenue continued to grow at a fast clip

Congressmen urge Biden to hold India liable for trade distorting practices

A group of US lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to file a formal request for consultations with India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over its "dangerous trade-distorting practices"

MC12: Decisions not impactful, but WTO wins big

The current practice of not imposing Customs duties on electronic transmission will continue till the next ministerial conference (MC13) to be held towards the end of December 2023

Top headlines: India softens stance at WTO meet, what next after 5G & more

Global tech companies are again bracing for a battle with Indian telecom companies, and this time it is over delicensing of the valuable 6-GHz band (5925-7125 MHz).

Glimmers of hope as WTO's global trade talks stretch into final day

Ministers from 100 countries are gathering at WTO's headquarters in Geneva this week to discuss international trade talks

WTO ministerial conference extended by one day to facilitate outcomes

The conference was initially scheduled to close on Wednesday and is now extended till June 16

Low expectations from the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference

The meet takes place under the shadow of global inflation, supply chain disruptions, lingering pandemic, slowing growth momentum, and the Russia-Ukraine war

WTO MC12: Export restrictions can blow up global food crisis, says DG

Director General Okonjo Iweala Ngozi warns of a 'bumpy road' to consensus on even one-two deliverables

G33 Ministerial Meet: Goyal concerned over stalemate on public stockholding

Goyal stressed that the decision related to the public stockholding and special safeguard mechanism are the key areas of concern for the developing nations

WTO chief warns of 'bumpy' road as ministers work to reach deals

The WTO chief insisted that trade has lifted 1 billion people out of poverty, but poorer countries - and poor people in richer ones - are often left behind

Indian wheat must not be re-exported to 3rd country, says Piyush Goyal

'We want to support less developed, friendly and neighbouring countries to the extent we can'

WTO MC12: India will agree to fisheries deal if it is 'equitable'

The current draft is unfairly constraining the less developed nations that don't have the capacity and resources to support their industry and farmers