New Delhi, March 28
India has warned World Trade Organization members against using “transparency” rules as a tool for trade retaliation, saying disclosure obligations must be matched with sustained support to help developing countries comply fairly. Speaking at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said transparency should not be used to challenge legitimate domestic policies or create pressure on countries with weaker administrative capacity.
The issue has become a key point in wider WTO reform talks, with the United States pushing for stricter enforcement of notification rules under the Technical Barriers to Trade agreement. These rules require members to regularly disclose trade policies, subsidies and regulatory changes. India, while backing transparency in principle, said the focus should remain on fairness and capacity-building rather than penalties.
In a statement, the commerce ministry said India had cautioned members against “weaponising transparency” and argued that all countries — especially developing economies — must be given a fair chance to meet obligations effectively.
India also used the conference to push for a broader reform agenda. In a separate session, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal backed a time-bound restart of WTO reform discussions, but said changes should be based on stronger evidence, deeper engagement and ministerial decisions rather than “preconceived” positions.
He also warned against plurilateral agreements, saying they risk fragmenting the multilateral trading system, and called for reforms to remain open, inclusive and member-driven.
On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal met Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to review progress on the proposed India-Canada free trade agreement, and also held talks with Oman’s Secretary of State for Industry and Trade, Omar Hejira.
