The US today joined majority of the countries and groups in opposing India. With India taking a strong stand, it will now be difficult for the developed nations to push their agenda of implementing the TFA.
"We are deeply disappointed that backsliding on Trade Facilitation has brought the WTO to the brink of crisis," US Trade Representative (USTR) Mike Froman said in a statement, amid indication that the talks has collapsed in Geneva.
"A decision to walk away from that package would have serious ramifications on the future of the Doha Round," Froman warned.
In a strong message to the WWTO, India today said it will not ratify the trade facilitation pact until a permanent solution is found on food security and other issues of poor nations impacting livelihood of millions.
Froman said dozens of countries, including the G-20, have sought to provide assurances that we are committed to fulfil all elements of the Bali agreement.
Froman noted that once the TFA protocol is adopted, each World Trade Organisation member will have a full year to consider its own domestic decisions regarding ratification of the agreement.
"The current state of play on Trade Facilitation threatens to deal a serious blow to the credibility of the multilateral trading system and to set back the development needs of many countries around the world.
The world trade body is scheduled to ratify the TFA till July 31.
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