All posts tagged: world trade organisation

E-transmission duty: US seeks permanent curbs, India opposes | Business News

E-transmission duty: US seeks permanent curbs, India opposes | Business News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readEw DelhiMar 18, 2026 05:20 AM IST India is set to oppose a key US-led World Trade Organisation (WTO) proposal seeking a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) set to be held in Cameroon later this month, The Indian Express has learned. “We do not support the extension of the moratorium. The growth of e-commerce or gains from e-commerce should not be conflated with the so-called benefits of the moratorium. While the cost of the moratorium is almost completely borne by the developing countries that are net importers of digital products, its benefits are accruing to a few developed countries. “A re-consideration of the moratorium  is critical for developing countries, most importantly to preserve policy space and achieve domestic industrialisation,” an Indian representative said as per the minutes of the meeting. India’s position was sharply contrasting with that of the US, which has not only asked for an extension but has also sought a permanent moratorium, arguing that imposing duty on electronic transmissions would restore …

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Tuvalu, QUAD grouping and more (Week 106) | UPSC Current Affairs News

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Tuvalu, QUAD grouping and more (Week 106) | UPSC Current Affairs News

Published by Parlour News

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on  International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at [email protected]🚨 QUESTION 1 Which of the following countries is/are part of the QUAD grouping? 1. India 2. Canada 3. Japan 4. United Kingdom 5. France 6. Australia Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 2, 3, 4 and 6 (b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 (c) 1, 2, and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 5 only Explanation Story continues below this ad — Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21, 2024. It was hosted by former US President Joseph R. Biden. The leaders of the Quad grouping are India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. — Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that they “are not against anyone” and that they …

Despite hectic discussions, WTO MC13 ends with no deals on fisheries, agriculture

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Delegates attend the 13th WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. File | Photo Credit: Reuters The talks at the WTO’s ministerial conference ended with no decision on key issues such as finding a permanent solution to public food stockpile and on curbing fisheries subsidies that lead to over-capacity and over-fishing, sources said. However, the members agreed to further extend the moratorium on imposing import duties on e-commerce trade for two more years, they said. Despite the four days of hectic parleys getting extended for a day, the 166-member World Trade Organisation (WTO) was not able to reach a common ground for resolving the food security issue, a demand raised prominently by India, and curbing subsidies that leads to overfishing and over capacity. Also read: WTO MC13 | What’s on the agenda for India? They added that India successfully pushed the food security issue and the country did not yield any ground on protecting the interest of poor farmers and fishermen and also on other issues and kept its defensive interests in various …

‘Our Stand Is Consistent’: Piyush Goyal Says India Is Consensus Builder At WTO, But ‘Certain Nations’ Breaking That

Published by Webster

Last Updated: February 29, 2024, 06:42 IST Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the the 13th ministerial conference (MC) with WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. (Image: WTO/X) Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasises India’s role as a consensus builder in WTO amid allegations. Key issues at 13th ministerial conference discussed Underlining that India is a consensus builder in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday some countries are breaking that at the 13th ministerial conference (MC13). His remarks came amid allegations by certain developed nations that India is blocking deals at the WTO. The conference began on February 26 to discuss issues such as agriculture and fisheries subsidies, dispute settlement, and moratorium on customs duty levy on e-commerce trade. “Our stand is consistent. We have to see who are blocking the issues and who is responsible for not letting things of the WTO smoothly… It is proved that India in fact is a consensus builder and we are playing a key role in …

India opposes China-led investment facilitation proposal at WTO, terms it non-trade issue | India News

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India is opposed to a proposal led by China on investment facilitation at the WTO, stating that it is a non-trade issue and falls outside the mandate of the global trade body, an official said on Tuesday. A China-led group of over 120 countries are pushing for the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFD) proposal to become part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). These nations want to figure the issue in the 13th ministerial conference (MC) here. The four-day meet started here on February 26. “India believes that the WTO should deal with issues related to trade and this is a non-trade issue and India is against bringing this into the WTO framework,” the official said. The group wants to bring the proposal through annexure-4 of the WTO under which the proposal would be binding on only the signatory members and not on those who are opposed to it. India’s concern emanates from the fact that proponents of IFD should not be attempting to bring a “non-mandated, non-multilateral issue” to the formal process in …

Government Said to Seek an End to WTO’s 1998 Tariff Freeze on Digital Trade

Published by Webster

India is seeking to end a freeze on countries taxing electronic trade, a move that would allow tariffs to be imposed on anything from software downloads to video games. New Delhi will ask World Trade Organization members to lift a moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the discussions aren’t public. The issue will come up for discussion at the WTO’s ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi in February. The WTO has had a moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998, and members have extended the rule every two years. India and other developing nations like South Africa say the restriction leads to a loss of tariff revenue and affects their trade competitiveness. India wants to be able to tax goods that are embedded in digital trade, the person said. It will also push the WTO to bring clarity on the definition of goods in e-commerce, the person said. Global businesses have opposed the lifting of the moratorium, urging …