India to press for reforms in WTO functioning

In the run-up to the seventh WTO ministerial meeting in Geneva beginning November 30, India has proposed urgent reforms in the functioning of the multilateral trade body.
    
More transparency on the issues related to the non-trade barriers tops the list of India's reform agenda.
    
The country's efforts at bringing in reforms in the functioning of the WTO has already been lauded by South Africa, a key partner in several alliances of the developing countries built by India and others for seeking a fair global trade deal for them.
   
"Again India has led the way and has tabled proposals for systematic reforms of the WTO," South African delegation head at the WTO Faizel Ismail said at a function organised by CUTS International, a trade and consumer think-tank here.
    
The reforms suggested by Indian negotiators include proposals for establishing a web-based trade information system, strengthening of the committees and enhancing the work programme on regional trade agreements.
    
Ismail said with the leadership provided by India, the developing country groups have come out stronger from the collapse of Doha Round talks in July and December 2008.
    
"They (developing countries) are scheduled to hold a series of ministerial meetings next week in Geneva to demonstrate the unity of purpose, including in the grand coalition of G110 that includes all the major developing country groups in the WTO," Ismail said.
    
With the Doha Round issues being kept off the official agenda at the Geneva meeting-- from November 30 to December 2--the summit will concentrate on the issues of transparency in WTO functioning.