WTO dispute settlement body to be in focus at mini-ministerial meet

A deadlock in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) dispute settlement body, and the move by richer nations to deny developing ones access to certain trade benefits will be the focus of the upcoming mini-ministerial, the government says.

However, increasing protectionism and outright challenges to the multilateral trade rules regime form the backbone of the talks, set to be held in New Delhi on May 13-14. 

The current situation has given rise to demands from various quarters to reform the WTO. 

Sixteen key WTO economies, mostly from the developing bloc, will be present while six least developed nations will also join the talks. Ministers