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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela in Geneva (Switzerland). The two leaders discussed the issue of a permanent solution to public storage for food security. In addition, Goyal also participated in the G33 ministerial meeting. It is an alliance of developing countries and India is an important member of it. The Union Minister discussed various issues with his counterparts from developing and less developed countries.
Goel tweeted that he attended the G33 ministerial meeting within an hour of reaching the WTO in Geneva as part of the fight for the rights of his farmers. During this discussion with DG Ngozi Okonja Iwela and Commerce Ministers of developing and least developed countries discussed the issue of sustainable solutions of public storage for food security. Apart from this, he met US Trade Secretary Catherine.
The Commerce Ministry said in a statement that the Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reached Geneva. India has the responsibility of protecting the interests of all the stakeholders in the country as well as protecting the interests of developing and poor countries.
In May, the WTO director general came out with three draft texts on agriculture, trade and food security and the exemption of the World Food Program from export restrictions. The ministry said that India has objections to certain provisions of the draft discussions and is in touch with various countries regarding the same. Also, an important issue in the WTO meeting is the purchase of food items at India’s minimum support price. This issue was also discussed in G33.
What did Goyal say after the meeting?
After attending the G33 Ministerial meeting in Geneva, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that we have made our stand keeping in mind the fundamental principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. We have also expressed concern about developing and underdeveloped countries in the meeting.
Goyal will also participate in the thematic session starting from Monday i.e. June 13. The session will begin with the waiver proposal and the WTO’s response to pandemics and future pandemics. The second session is to be on food security. Fisheries and agriculture will be discussed on Tuesday. There will be a session on Wednesday on the issue of WTO reforms and moratorium on customs for electronic transmission.
#WATCH , After attending the G33 Ministerial Meeting in Geneva, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal said, “No one can pressurise today’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. We can face any challenge. We don’t take any decision under pressure.” pic.twitter.com/neg4YrcEhg
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2022
We will not bow down on the issue of subsidy to fishermen: India
Developed and developing countries came face to face on many issues at the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) beginning on Sunday in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. Differences came to the fore on an agreement regarding subsidy in fish farming. Developed countries want to eliminate subsidies on fuel while developing countries want a rebate of up to 25 years. India has clearly said that it will not bow down to its stand on the issue of subsidy to fishermen. India says that developed countries are responsible for exploiting marine resources. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has arrived to participate in the WTO meeting.
82 countries out of 120 with India
India’s Permanent Representative to the WTO Brajendra Navneet said that on July 15 last year all the ministers had gathered on this issue. Representative ministers of 82 countries out of 120 countries supported India. He said the Coalition of Developing Countries is well aware that they have not exploited the resources, so their interest is in protecting their small and traditional fishermen. They will not like any discipline in their waters. He said that developing countries are not involved in fishing in the distant seas.