♤ These mega-agreements constitute a thinly veiled attack on China, India and South Africa, all countries that, in the WTO framework, oppose the liberalisation of trade in industrial goods, services, government procurement and investments, and are stubbornly insisting on more just global rules in agriculture.

In trade negotiations, including multilateral trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO), India has always taken a consistent stand to protect the interest of the country and its farmers.

The mandate of the Doha round of trade negotiations in the WTO envisaged the reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies.

The Uruguay Round WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AOA) permits use of export subsidies to the Members that used them during the base year 1986-88.

Mostly developed countries like the US, EU are entitled to provide export subsidies as per Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).

India could use only a special and differential provision of AoA that allows developing countries to use subsidies aimed at reducing the cost of marketing including internal and external transport as well as handling and processing costs.

♤ Developing nations, including India, face a double disadvantage at WTOs Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). These nations are challenged not only by the lack of a sufficient pool of trade law experts to represent them effectively at the DSB but also by not including non-trade issues such as labour and environment – two important factors for developing countries.