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Informist, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

 

MUMBAI – There are currently nine trade disputes pending against India under the World Trade Organization dispute settlement understanding, including those filed by countries such as China, Japan, Brazil, and Australia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply in Lok Sabha Tuesday.

 

The government is engaging the services of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, the Centre for WTO Studies, and empanelled law firms to represent and assist in the defence of India's interests in WTO disputes, he said. An amount of almost INR 24.3 million has been incurred towards the services of empanelled law firms in relation to these nine disputes. "Since the proceedings are ongoing, any further expenditure is contingent upon the progress and requirements of the respective disputes," Prasada said. 

 

The dispute with Japan concerns Tokyo's challenge to India's safeguard measures on certain iron and steel products. "India maintained that the measures were WTO-consistent and continued to apply them until they expired in the ordinary course," he said. "India has appealed the Panel Report, and the appeal remains pending due to the non-functioning of the WTO Appellate Body," he added.

 

With Brazil, Australia and Guatemala, the dispute concerns India's domestic support to sugarcane producers and alleged export subsidies for sugar. "The complainants alleged that these measures are inconsistent with provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture as well as the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures," he said. 

 

The WTO's Agreement on Agriculture commits to reducing subsidies and trade barriers to make markets fairer and more competitive. It also provides for members to continue negotiations for further reform, taking into account concerns such as food security and the environment. The WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures regulates the use of government financial aid and the application of countervailing duties. 

 

Prasada said that India has contested these claims before the WTO panel and maintained that its sugar support policies and export-related schemes are in accordance with its WTO commitments and rights under the Agreement on Agriculture and the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement. "These measures have continued for the benefit of sugarcane producers. India has appealed the Panel Report, and the appeals remain pending," he added. 

 

The European Union, Japan and Taiwan have raised disputes concerning the tariff treatment accorded by India to certain information and communications technology products, alleging that New Delhi has applied customs duties, in excess of the bound rates recorded in India's WTO schedule. India has defended these measures before the WTO Panel, contending that they are consistent with its rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements, he said. 

 

Further, China has challenged India's certain production-linked incentive schemes relating to advanced chemistry cell battery storage, automobiles and auto components, electric passenger cars, and high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules, as well as India's tariff measures on certain technology products. Beijing has alleged that the measures are inconsistent with the Agreement on WTO's Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures.

 

India has defended the measures, contending that they are consistent with its rights and obligations under the WTO agreements and measures continue to remain in force, according to Prasada. End

 

Reported by Pratiksha

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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