India to pitch for permanent solution for food security at WTO meet

After a gap of five years_ 12th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is to begin on Sunday in Geneva_ Switzerland and India will pitch for a permanent solution to its food security concerns at the meeting.

The Indian delegation will be led by the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The key discussions and negotiations at the conference include WTO's response to the pandemic_ fisheries subsidies negotiations_ agriculture issues including Public Stockholding for food security_ WTO reforms and a moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission.

In May 2022_ WTO Director-General brought three draft texts on agriculture_ trade and food security and exemption of the World Food Programme (WFP) from export restrictions for negotiations.

A vital issue under negotiation at the WTO meet relates to the protection of food grain procurement programme of India at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). Such programmes involve purchases from farmers at administered prices and are key to supporting the country's farmers and consumers.
This issue is being discussed at the WTO by the coalition of developing countries commonly known as G-33_ of which India is a key member and the African Group_ which has come together along with the ACP group (African_ Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) in submitting a proposal on a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes on May 31_ 2022.

In the negotiations_ improvements are being sought by the developing countries over the ministerial decision adopted at the 9th ministerial conference of the WTO in Bali_ Indonesia in December 2013_ where members agreed to negotiate a permanent solution on the issue.

It was agreed by the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO that in the interim_ until a permanent solution is reached_ Members would exercise due restraint in raising disputes in respect of public stockholding programmes for food security purposes instituted before December 7_ 2013_ even if countries exceeded their permissible limits.

Consequent to the firm stand taken by India_ this peace clause was extended by a decision of the WTO General Council (GC) in November 2014 until a permanent solution was agreed upon and adopted.

The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry said_ India neither wants to link the PSH issue with other agriculture issues nor a work programme as negotiating a permanent solution has a standalone mandate at the WTO.