 "US Trade Representative says India 'reneged' WTO TFA")
“Unfortunately, a handful of countries led by India reneged on the commitment they made in Bali just last December and blocked implementation of the agreement. It should be implemented immediately, not only because of its direct economic importance but also to give new life to the multilateral trading system,” Froman said in an Opinion piece in British daily Financial Times.
The US and European Union, plus some other countries, had been vocally critical on the GOI's stance during the General Council meeting at WTO headquarters in Geneva this July. The issue was also raised by US President Barack Obama during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington last month. The PM had told him India was not opposed to the TFA, which seeks to ease global Customs barriers. However, it wants other countries to first agree on a consensus for its food security concerns.
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According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, both leaders directed their officials “to consult urgently along with other WTO members on the next steps”. The US is keeping up the pressure on India. The matter also came up during a meeting recently between deputy USTR Wendy Cutler and commerce secretary Rajeev Kher.
Back in Geneva, during the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation on September 29, US ambassador Michael Punke had asked for discontinuation of the committee as it believes all work on the TF is over and there is no reason why it should meet. The US said it believed further work on addressing this issue should take place within the General Council and not in the PCTF, which had completed its work.
India, on the other hand, said more discussion needed to take place on TFA, even as it stayed firm on its position, which is to have a permanent solution to its concerns on public stockholding for food security.