India will press for strengthening the World Trade Organization at an upcoming ministerial conference in Cameroon from March 24 to 29, as it seeks to reinforce a fair, rules-based multilateral trading system amid rising protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty.
The Indian delegation, led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, will participate in deliberations alongside senior officials, including Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The engagement comes at a time when global trade dynamics are increasingly shaped by unilateral tariff measures and shifting geopolitical alignments.
India’s position centres on the need to strengthen the WTO’s institutional role so that it can respond more effectively to contemporary trade challenges. Officials indicated that New Delhi will advocate for preserving the integrity of multilateral processes while resisting attempts to introduce agreements that lack consensus among all member nations.
Among the key issues expected to be discussed is the China-backed Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement. India has consistently opposed the proposal, arguing that it represents a plurilateral initiative being pushed into a multilateral framework without full agreement. It maintains that investment-related matters fall outside the WTO’s traditional mandate of trade in goods and services and cautions that such negotiations could limit a country’s regulatory autonomy over foreign direct investment.
Another critical issue on the agenda is the continuation of the long-standing moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. The moratorium, in place for nearly three decades, remains a point of contention, with developing countries weighing its implications on digital trade and revenue generation.
Agriculture is expected to remain a central focus of India’s engagement. The country continues to push for a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security, arguing that existing rules do not adequately reflect the needs of developing economies. India has maintained that it must retain policy space to support small farmers through mechanisms such as minimum support prices, while also calling for more balanced rules on agricultural subsidies globally.
Fisheries subsidies will also feature prominently in the discussions, particularly in the context of the proposed Fisheries-II agreement. India has reiterated its demand for safeguarding the livelihoods of small-scale and traditional fishers, while seeking a 25-year transition period for developing countries to comply with subsidy restrictions. It has argued that developed nations, which account for large-scale industrial fishing, should bear greater responsibility in reducing subsidies.
Sources indicated that concerns over tariff measures by the United States could also be raised during the conference, as several member countries continue to flag the impact of protectionist policies on global trade flows.
India’s broader approach reflects a push to ensure that the WTO remains a credible platform for addressing trade imbalances and fostering equitable growth. The government has consistently argued that any reform process must uphold inclusivity, transparency and the development priorities of emerging economies.
As the ministerial meeting approaches, India is expected to reiterate its call for strengthening multilateralism at a time when global trade governance faces increasing fragmentation and uncertainty.
