Page 2 - World Trade Organisation

India, Brazil begin talks to resolve sugar related trade dispute at WTO

India and Brazil have started talks to mutually resolve a sugar related trade dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as part of the solution the South American nation may share ethanol production technology with New Delhi, an official said. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane and ethanol in the world. It is also a leader in the technology used for ethanol production. "Few rounds of talks have been held as part of our efforts to resolve the dispute. We have also held inter-ministerial meetings here. Brazil is saying that they will share with us technology for ethanol (production). It is a positive thing," the official said. Ethanol is used to blend with oil to power vehicles. Use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agri produce, will help the world's third largest oil consumer and importing country cut its reliance on overseas shipments. India currently is 85 per cent dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs. Also, it cuts ..

India, EU officials to discuss New Delhi's concerns over carbon border levy

India and the EU established a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) last year, the trade bloc is prepared to engage with India on potential challenges the latter could face due to CBAM's implementation

WTO in survival mode pushes back on splintering the global trade

The WTO estimates that the cost of splitting the world trade system into separate blocs would be about 5 per cent of real income at the global level

Computer import curbs not part of FTP Principles of Restrictions

The duty rates on computer software and hardware were cut to zero after India became a signatory to the Information Technology Agreements (ITA-1 and ITA-2) at the World Trade Organisation

India, China question European Union's unilateral trade policy measures

Certain 'irritants' preventing from achieving full potential of trade: India

Predominantly digital exports fuel India's services trade, shows data

Segment accounts for over 15 per cent of total goods and services exports for India, others

US, India withdraw 6 trade disputes: Will this bonhomie sustain over time?

India and the US, despite their robust diplomatic ties, have quibbled on trade issues over the years and across administrations

WTO flags poor utilisation of India scheme for least developed countries

85% of 11,000 products offered at zero tariff remains unutilised

Global trade indicates possible turnaround in second quarter of 2023: WTO

Global goods trade is expected to witness a turnaround in the second quarter of this year due to a recent pickup in export orders, the WTO said on Wednesday. According to the WTO's Goods Trade Barometer, preliminary data suggest that trade remained depressed in the first quarter of 2023. "But the recent pickup in export orders points to an increase in demand for traded goods in the second quarter," it added. These results are broadly consistent with the WTO's most recent trade forecast issued on April 5, which projects 1.7 per cent growth in world merchandise trade in 2023. The WTO's (World Trade Organisation) expectation augurs well for India, which is struggling to push its outbound shipments. India's exports contracted by 12.7 per cent, the third month in a row, to USD 34.66 billion in April even as the trade deficit reduced to a 20-month low of USD 15.24 billion, the government data showed.

Centre asks industry to be ready for EU carbon tax, vows smooth transition

The carbon tax aims to impose a tax on goods imported into the EU from regions where production-stage carbon emissions are higher than those allowed by the mechanism's rules

MOOWR scheme made less attractive

Most manufacturers were reluctant to opt for the MOOWR scheme instead of well-established EOU/SEZ/EPCG schemes. Now, even some MOOWR units may opt out of the scheme and go for the competing schemes

ICT levy dispute at WTO: EU may opt for retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods

The EU had earlier approached India to resolve the matter through the MPIA

WTO panel rules against India in IT tariffs dispute with EU, others

The EU is India's third largest trading partner, accounting for 10.8% of total Indian trade in 2021, according to the European Commission

Investment facilitation for development or trouble?

Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, and Italy pulled out of the Energy Charter Treaty last year to stave off the ISDS mechanism

Exports up 4.8% to $35.45 billion days after initial data showed a dip

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has also painted a grim picture for the outlook of global trade next year amid fears of a recession

India opposes group consultation on food subsidies programme at WTO

The members had expressed concern with India's "lack of full transparency" in taking recourse to the Bali Decision as well as in replies to certain questions raised in the Agri Committee

Govt considering forming units to build expertise in Free Trade Agreements

The objective of building dedicated units in the FTA areas is to enable India to negotiate deals with other nations at the World Trade Organization from a position of strength

WTO warns 'darkened' trade outlook could deteriorate further in 2023

The World Trade Organisation is predicting global trade volumes will grow a lackluster 1% next year as crises and challenges weigh on markets, including high energy prices, rising interest rates and uncertainties about Chinese manufacturing output amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. The Geneva-based trade body said Wednesday that the amount of goods shipped between countries are expected to rise 3.5% this year, up from the 3% that WTO anticipated in its first forecast for the year in April. In 2023, the prediction is for such trade volumes to grow just 1%, down from the 3.4% expected previously. The risks are certainly to the downside next year, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters at its headquarters. This year, the higher predicted increase in trade volumes stems from better data that arrived in the middle of the year, contributing to a clearer forecast, and a boom in trade volumes from oil- and gas-producing countries in the Middle East as supplies from Russ

Hotels, tour operators shed Covid baggage as Diwali promises to sparkle

Group tours at 65-70% of pre-pandemic levels; Southeast Asia, Egypt, and Turkey seeing maximum demand

Hold talks to extend TRIPS waiver to Covid diagnostics: Piyush Goyal to G20

Goyal said if multilateralism was imperilled, the world will not be left with many fora to promote dialogue and diplomacy