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World Trade Organization (WTO)

Part of International Relations — International Organizations and Agreements. Common notes for UPSC Mains GS-II.

UPSC

📌 Background & Key Features

  • Mandate: Sets and enforces global trade rules, administers trade agreements, and provides a dispute-settlement forum — though its Appellate Body has been non-functional since 2019, weakening binding dispute resolution.
  • India’s negotiating priorities: Permanent solution on public stockholding for food security, opposition to e-commerce moratorium extension without safeguards, and resistance to new non-trade issues (labour, environment) being used as backdoor protectionism by developed countries.
  • Reform push: India, with BRICS partners, has repeatedly called for WTO reform to restore a functioning, binding, two-step dispute settlement system and to make the institution more representative of developing-country interests.

📋 Quick Facts

Founded1995 (successor to GATT, 1947)
India’s key stanceProtection of food-security public stockholding + special safeguard mechanism
Persistent issueDoha Round deadlock; Appellate Body non-functional since 2019 (US blocking judge appointments)

📰 Current Affairs Linkage (2025-26)

  • India reiterated support for a rules-based, fair, open and inclusive WTO-centred trading system at the May 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, flagging concerns over non-market practices and supply-chain concentration (implicitly targeting China).
  • US tariff actions (2025-26, including 50% tariffs affecting India) have intensified debate over whether WTO rules can still discipline major-power unilateral trade measures — a recurring "WTO relevance" theme.

🔖 60-Second Revision

  • Founded: 1995 (successor to GATT, 1947)
  • India’s key stance: Protection of food-security public stockholding + special safeguard mechanism
  • Persistent issue: Doha Round deadlock; Appellate Body non-functional since 2019 (US blocking judge appointments)

📝 PYQs for Practice (Mains)

YearQuestionMarks
2016‘The broader aims and objectives of WTO are to manage and promote international trade in the era of globalization. But the Doha round of negotiations seem doomed due to differences between developed and developing countries.’ Discuss in the Indian perspective.12.5
2014WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in a profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on food security.12.5