Explained: WTO talks collapse as US plays spoilsport to India's demands

Overarching indecision at largest multilateral trade meet may plague trade policymaking over next 2 years

The 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation - the largest global meet for multilateral trade talks held biennially - has come to an end without a significant outcome as nations dug into their divergent positions and the US played spoilsport for India's demands on agricultural issues. 

With wide divergences in negotiating positions established before the onset of the summit, trade experts had confidently predicted that few outcomes, if any would come out. This had been hinted at by the government as well with Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu telling Business Standard last month that India needs to