2. • Estd: Jan 1, 1995 (Marrakesh Agreement, Uruguay Round);
predecessor GATT
• H.Q: Geneva, Switzerland
• Members: 164 (latest Afghanistan; 2015)
• DG: Roberto Azevedo
• ‘To regulate intl. trade’
o Administering trade agreements
o Forum for trade negotiations
o Reviewing national trade policies
o Assisting Developing countries in trade policy issues
o Co-operating with other intl. org
Swapnil J. Hadpe 2
4. Ministerial Conferences
• 1st
: Singapore Conference (1996)
o Disagreements between Developed & Developing Countries
o 4 Issues: Transparency in Govt. Procurement, Trade Facilitation, Trade
& Investment, Trade Competition
• 3rd
Min. Conference; Seattle, US; ‘Millennium Round’ (1999)
o Further disagreements between Developed & Developing Nations
o US & EU attempted a mutual deal on Agriculture
o Massive protests
• 4th
Min. Conference; Doha Round (2001)
• ‘Doha Development Round’ – Agriculture & Services
• Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of IP Rights (TRIPS)
Swapnil J. Hadpe 4
5. Doha Development Agenda
• Objectives: Lower Trade Barriers, increase Global Trade
• Disagreements over: Agriculture, Industrial Tariff & Non-tariff
Barriers, Services, Trade Remedies
• Stand off Between: Developed Countries (US, EU, Japan &
Major Developing Countries (Ind., Brazil, China, S. Africa) over
Agri. Subsidies
• Subsequent Rounds: Cancun (2003), Hong Kong (2005), Paris
(2005), Potsdam (2007), Geneva (2004, 2006, 2008)
• Emergence of G-20 Block
• 2008 Crisis & consequent ‘Economic Disbelief’
Swapnil J. Hadpe 5
6. TRIPS
• Sets down min. standards for IP
• Negotiated at the end of Uruguay Round (under GATT; 1994)
• At Doha Round: scope of TRIPS clarified
• Balance of interests between: Pharmaceutical Companies in
Developed Countries (Patent) & Public Health needs in
developing Countries (medicine on AIDS in Africa)
• Protection of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge & Practices
• Extra time to Developing Countries till 2005
• Special & Differential Treatment to LDCs (Duty-Free, Quota-
Free Access); transition time till 2013 & 1 Jan, 2016 (for
pharma.)
• Criticism: Money from people in Developing Countries to
Patent Holders in Developed Countries
Swapnil J. Hadpe 6
7. Agreement on Agri. (AoA)
• Three Pillars:
1. Market Access (Reduce Import Duties)
2. Export Subsidies (Reduce)
3. Domestic Agri. Subsidies
GREEN AMBERBLUE
Don’t disrupt trade
balance
Aim to limit production Disturb Trade Balance
Agri. Research Don’t increase with production Subsidies on Fertilizers,
Seeds, Power
Extension Services Eg. Subsidies on acreage or no.
of animals
Encourage excessive
production
Farmer Training
Programmes
Very few countries use Products become
cheaper
No Limit No Limit Limit: ‘De-Minimus
Level’ (Base Prod. of
1986)
Swapnil J. Hadpe 7
8. Bali Round
• 9th
Ministerial Conference; Dec, 2013
• Three Main Outcomes:
1. Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) – Min. Red Tape in Custom
Clearance
2. LDC Exports - DFQFA
3. Food Stockholding – Peace Clause
• TFA:
o Every Member to publish detailed list for import-export, fees, inspection rules,
penalties
o Min. proof docs & clearance
o Internet of ‘everything’
o E-payment of fees, duties, taxes
o Single-window Clearance
o National Committee on Trade Facilitation
o Deadline to sign 31 July, 2014 (India Refused); enforced from 2015
• LDC:
o Financial & Technical assistance
Swapnil J. Hadpe 8
9. India’s Food Security Act & ‘Peace Clause’
• Subsidised food grains to 2/3rd
of India’s population
• Rice: Rs. 3/-; Wheat: Rs. 2/-; Coarse Grains: Rs. 1/- (Per kg)
• Threat of sanctions by other members of WTO for violation of
‘De-Minimus’ level
• Pressure on India to give up its :
o MSP
o Public Procurement
• TFA needs ratification of 2/3rd
Members of WTO (108
Countries)
• India Ratified & still using its ‘Soft Power’ (inspiration movie
‘Josh’)
• Peace Clause till 2017
Swapnil J. Hadpe 9
10. Nairobi Conference
• Dec, 2015
• 1st
WTO Conference in Africa
• Efforts by US & EU to set aside Doha Agenda
• No concrete agreement on ‘Special Safeguard Mechanism’ to
protect farmers in Developing & LDCs
• New issues of interest for Developed Countries – Competition
Policy, Govt. Procurement, Investment
• Nairobi Package:
o Agri. Export Subsidies (SSM) – Stop them!
India – Stop Export Subsidies by 2018, on Transport, Mktg. by
2023
o LDC – by 2030; cotton; prefential treatment to goods & services
o I.T Agreement – eliminate tariff on 201 IT products
o Patent Evergreen
Swapnil J. Hadpe 10
