Nirmala to meet WTO chief tomorrow in Geneva

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Issues like the proposed trade facilitation agreement in services would figure in the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and World Trade Organisa

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Issues like the proposed trade facilitation agreement in services would figure in the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Roberto Azevedo tomorrow in Geneva, an official said.

Besides, Sitharaman would also meet officials at the Indian Mission and speak at The Graduate Institute on – ‘Reclaiming Multilateralism – India and the WTO’.

The other issues which would come up for discussions during her visit include finding permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding of grains for food security purposes; fishery subsidies; and preparations for the forthcoming meeting at Argentina.

“The meeting is important as the next ministerial conference is in Argentina in December. India has made it clear it would always protect the interest of the coastal community,” the commerce ministry official, who did not wish to be named, said.

India wants that new issues such as e-commerce in the WTO agenda should be taken up only after consensus among the member nations.

Developed countries including the US are pushing for inclusion of certain issues like investment facilitation and e-commerce in the WTO agenda.

India has submitted a paper on trade facilitation agreement in services (TFS) and it wants WTO member countries to talk about it.

The 11th Ministerial Conference, highest decision making body of the WTO, is in December.

The official added that before this meeting, the technical work needs to be tied up properly.

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.