China has asked the WTO to set up a dispute panel against India’s support measures for solar cells and modules, along with certain IT sector policies. The two countries’ bilateral talks failed to resolve the issue, with Beijing alleging the rules discriminate against Chinese goods. The move follows a similar WTO request made in January over India’s auto and battery incentives.
GTRI cautions India to slow down on a bilateral trade agreement with the US, citing President Trump’s volatile tariff strategy. Recent court rulings have struck down key US tariffs, pushing trade talks back toward traditional WTO frameworks. The think tank warns this uncertainty could leave India negotiating a “one-sided” deal without meaningful reciprocal tariff relief.
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As global trade keeps expanding, experts say cracks are widening in the WTO’s governance—especially with “plurilaterals” lacking shared guardrails. They argue that “precautionism” is driving cautious, fragmented rulemaking, complicating consensus. Reforming WTO rules and balancing unilateral risks with multilateral stability is now central, with India’s negotiating approach under scrutiny.
India maintains that its intellectual property rules for pharmaceuticals are WTO compliant, even as the United States continues to press for stronger protections. The dispute comes as India supplies about 20% of global generic medicines, putting generics access and the domestic industry at the center of the argument. Both sides remain locked in long-running policy differences.
India has invoked the WTO peace clause for FY25 rice subsidies for farmers, marking the seventh time it has used the provision. The government says it will provide about $7.6 billion in subsidies, equivalent to 11.85% of the total value of rice production—pushing beyond the usual 10% limit under WTO rules.
India and Taiwan have asked the WTO’s dispute panel to push back its decision on India’s import duties for ICT products, setting the next date for October 27. The two sides say they are still working through negotiations to resolve the dispute, and this is not a one-off delay—requests have been granted repeatedly.
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