New Delhi

India has urged members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) not to misuse the principle of “transparency” as a tool for imposing trade retaliation or questioning legitimate domestic policies. It emphasised that transparency obligations should be supported by sustained capacity-building measures so that all countries—especially developing ones—can comply in a fair and effective manner.

Transparency forms a core element of the WTO’s agreement on technical barriers to trade, requiring member nations to regularly disclose details about their policies, subsidies, and regulatory frameworks. However, the United States has been advocating stricter disclosure norms under ongoing WTO reform discussions, alleging that several countries fail to report such information on time.

While developing nations acknowledge the importance of transparency, they have expressed concerns over the proposed approach. Many argue that penalising countries for non-compliance overlooks the practical limitations they face, including inadequate institutional capacity.

India reiterated its position during the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaounde, where Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal raised the issue in a session on ensuring a level playing field. He stressed that transparency rules must be implemented in a manner that is equitable and inclusive.

India also highlighted the need for all WTO members to have equal opportunities to strengthen their production capabilities, generate employment, and integrate effectively into global trade systems.

In a separate intervention, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal supported reviving reform efforts within a defined timeframe but underscored that such reforms should be grounded in solid evidence and broad-based consultation. He cautioned against selective approaches and pre-determined positions in negotiations.

Additionally, India warned against plurilateral agreements, arguing that they risk fragmenting the multilateral trading framework. It called for decision-making processes that are open, inclusive, and driven by consensus among all members.

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On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal held discussions with Canada’s Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to review progress on a proposed free trade agreement, and also met Omar Hejira, Oman’s Secretary of State for Industry and Trade.