india-urges-wto-to-fast-track-negotiations-on-ssm

India has called for the acceleration of talks on the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which would enable developing nations to raise tariffs on agricultural imports temporarily.

 

This move is intended to address the challenges posed by sudden surges in imports or sharp declines in prices. The call was made during a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture Issues in Geneva on December 4.

 

India stressed the importance of addressing key unresolved issues within the WTO, including finding a permanent solution to public stockholding, advancing SSM negotiations, and addressing cotton trade matters.

 

These issues, India believes, should be treated as standalone topics to ensure effective and focused negotiations.

 

The Indian delegation at the meeting reiterated the need to fast-track SSM negotiations, citing the Nairobi Ministerial Decision, which mandates prioritisation of these discussions.

 

India called for the establishment of straightforward, operational, and equitable modalities to make the process more efficient and inclusive.

 

The Indian representative in Geneva emphasised that a quick resolution of these issues is crucial for protecting the interests of developing nations, particularly in the agricultural sector.

 

The discussions also saw India responding to a new proposal from Guyana regarding agricultural negotiations. Guyana's proposal aims to advance agricultural talks ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Cameroon in 2026.

 

India made it clear that any facilitator-led processes should be based on consensus and adhere to the WTO's multilateral principles.

 

India expressed concerns about the non-traditional approach suggested by Guyana, which was based on convergence rather than consensus, and emphasised the need for all decisions to reflect the shared interests of all member nations.

 

Further, India has urged WTO members to engage in text-based negotiations to find a permanent solution to the issue of public food stockholding. Text-based negotiations involve the creation of draft agreements that are refined through discussions between member countries.

 

These drafts are fine-tuned over time until all nations are in agreement. India’s call for text-based negotiations reflects its desire to bring clarity and formality to the discussions on public food stockholding, which has long been a contentious issue at the WTO.