Relevance of WTO for India

♤ Regional trade groups cannot be an alternative as they have succeeded in some places and they have not elsewhere. India’s own experience with bilateral trade agreements has not always been good.

♤ Bilateral and regional treaties also open the door to the stricter “WTO plus” conditions in select areas like patents.

♤ India is in a better position with its food procurement and public stock holding policies protected within the WTO than with having to negotiate separate deals with major farm exporters like the U.S., Canada and Australia.