Deborah James, founder of Our World Is Not, said, “Not only is there no mandate for these (investment facility) negotiations, there is a negative mandate. The countries that are trying to push this at MC13 are fundamentally violating the WTO. Are violating the rules.” For the sales network, pointing to decisions taken in 2004 and 2016. Civil society groups have accused China of exerting undue pressure on poor countries, which they argued will yield no benefits, and also questioned the role of the WTO Secretariat in engaging them in the negotiations. Some people have described it as “illegitimate” and “anti-development”.
Government officials told TOI that a last-minute effort to insert something that was not even on the main agenda was not acceptable as countries were trying to bring things into the WTO through the backdoor, despite having been opposed to it for years. Had been.
“It is investment facilitation today, tomorrow it will be environment or MSMEs. These are non-trade issues and do not belong to WTO. Also, you cannot negotiate things in small groups and legitimize them by bringing it into the mainstream. Can’t try to push the agenda,” said an Indian negotiator.
Although the US, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not signed the IFD agreement, at least for the time being, they are not against including it as an agreement, which India and South Africa want to prevent. Both countries have firmly opposed “multilateralism” and have steadfastly maintained it. All members of WTO enjoy veto and even if even one member disagrees the issue will be blocked.
In the case of domestic regulation of services, WTO members have agreed to include it on the agenda, because the countries leading the agreement have decided to make it available to the entire membership without agreeing to any obligations.
Officials said that contrary to the picture being painted by some developed countries, domestic regulation of services – which seeks to bring transparency in regulating sectors such as banking, telecommunications and even entry of lawyers and accountants – has only Will help nations rather than push agendas. In a handful of countries, as was the case with investments.
“There has been progress. Also, the graduation to LDCs and the admission of two new members have been ministerial positive agenda items. It is unfair to blame some countries, especially when you have failed to implement the promise of your share of public stockholding. Things like that,” an Indian official said.
Separately, the G33 countries group on Sunday expressed serious concern over the lack of progress in agricultural trade talks and urged WTO members to work on a permanent solution to the issue of public stockpiling of grains for food security purposes.
The G33 group includes 47 developing and least developed countries.
