NEW DELHI: After wheat, India’s decision to ban exports of broken rice and also impose a 20% export tax on certain grains, came under attack from Senegal, a major importer, as well as USA and European Union.
Responding to criticism during the meeting at World Trade Organization (WTO) Last week, India defended the move, arguing that it is necessary to ban exports of broken rice, used as poultry feed, as shipments from the country have skyrocketed in recent months, creating pressure on the domestic market, sources familiar with the matter said. .
Officials said some WTO members’ views on India’s food exports were conflicting as they criticized New Delhi for “exporting too much” and then attacked them for stopping exports.
The US and EU acknowledge that India has policy space to take steps, but Washington seeks to blame the move for creating new uncertainty in global markets. According to sources, Senegal asked India to keep trade open.
The wheat export ban is also closely monitored, with Ukraine saying it hasn’t stopped exporting while India says the move is temporary, officials said.
The US and EU, which have traditionally attacked India’s trade policy, along with Brazil, Thailand and Australia, also sought to link the recent bans to question the government’s decision in invoking the “peace clause”, allowing members to provide more than the specified procurement ceiling.
For almost a decade now, some of these countries, notably the US, EU, Australia and Canada, have sought to block the final decision on the trade agreement reconstruction to ensure that developing countries do not at a disadvantage on the procurement front, something India has sought to push to ensure that the minimum support pricing regime is not affected.
While the nine countries have sought consultations, questioning the terms of the peace, they are now seeking group meetings rather than bilateral meetings, which India is very interested in.
In 2013 in Bali, trade ministers agreed not to drag a country into the WTO’s dispute settlement body in cases where the support for public stock holdings exceeded 10% of the value of production. . But it is a temporary solution and so far, India is the only country to invoke the provision, much to the annoyance of developed nations, which are trying to keep trade terms in their favor. .
Responding to criticism during the meeting at World Trade Organization (WTO) Last week, India defended the move, arguing that it is necessary to ban exports of broken rice, used as poultry feed, as shipments from the country have skyrocketed in recent months, creating pressure on the domestic market, sources familiar with the matter said. .
Officials said some WTO members’ views on India’s food exports were conflicting as they criticized New Delhi for “exporting too much” and then attacked them for stopping exports.
The US and EU acknowledge that India has policy space to take steps, but Washington seeks to blame the move for creating new uncertainty in global markets. According to sources, Senegal asked India to keep trade open.
The wheat export ban is also closely monitored, with Ukraine saying it hasn’t stopped exporting while India says the move is temporary, officials said.
The US and EU, which have traditionally attacked India’s trade policy, along with Brazil, Thailand and Australia, also sought to link the recent bans to question the government’s decision in invoking the “peace clause”, allowing members to provide more than the specified procurement ceiling.
For almost a decade now, some of these countries, notably the US, EU, Australia and Canada, have sought to block the final decision on the trade agreement reconstruction to ensure that developing countries do not at a disadvantage on the procurement front, something India has sought to push to ensure that the minimum support pricing regime is not affected.
While the nine countries have sought consultations, questioning the terms of the peace, they are now seeking group meetings rather than bilateral meetings, which India is very interested in.
In 2013 in Bali, trade ministers agreed not to drag a country into the WTO’s dispute settlement body in cases where the support for public stock holdings exceeded 10% of the value of production. . But it is a temporary solution and so far, India is the only country to invoke the provision, much to the annoyance of developed nations, which are trying to keep trade terms in their favor. .
