Home / Business and Economy / India Fights 9 WTO Trade Disputes
India Fights 9 WTO Trade Disputes
4 Aug
Summary
- India is defending nine WTO disputes on subsidies and tariffs.
- Disputes involve sugar, ICT products, and PLI schemes.
- India has appealed panel reports in several ongoing cases.
India is currently engaged in defending nine disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO). These cases challenge New Delhi's sugar subsidies, tariffs on information and communications technology (ICT) products, and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. Several countries, including Japan, Brazil, Australia, Guatemala, the European Union, Chinese Taipei, and China, are involved in these disputes.
To manage these legal battles, India has enlisted the expertise of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law and the Centre for WTO Studies, along with empanelled law firms. The expenditure on these legal services has amounted to approximately ₹2.43 crore, with further costs dependent on case progression. India asserts that its trade measures are consistent with WTO agreements.
Specifically, three disputes concern India's sugar support and export schemes, with India having appealed adverse panel reports. Another three disputes relate to customs duties on ICT products, where India has appealed panel findings against it in cases brought by the EU and Japan. Japan has also challenged India's safeguard measures on iron and steel products.
China has initiated two disputes challenging PLI schemes for batteries and automobiles, along with tariff measures. The WTO Appellate Body's non-functioning has led to pending appeals in several cases, complicating the resolution process. Panel proceedings are ongoing in some disputes, while others await panel constitution.
