New Delhi: In a closed-door session at the 12th WTO ministerial conference, Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal stressed the spiralling food inflation and the need for the agreement on food stockholding by developing countries. Emphasising the need for a permanent solution to public stockholding Piyush Goyal said, "After the Bali Ministerial Decision in 2013, the General Council in 2014 mandated a permanent solution on the issue of public food stocks, which has already been delayed. It should be the topmost priority for the 12th WTO ministerial meeting (MC12), before we move to new areas. Nothing is more important than this for the people of the world."
Targeting WTO for not being able to support the poor nations during the Covid-19 pandemic, "The pandemic reinforced the importance of "One Earth One Health", calling for global solidarity and collective action. My country ramped up supplies of medical products to provide medical and health items globally. Unfortunately, the WTO could not respond with alacrity. We have let down the people of the LDCs and developing countries. The rich countries need to introspect," said Goyal, according to an ANI report.
Goyal informed about sharing India's point of view on food stocks, fisheries, agriculture, and vaccines in meetings with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Trade Representative of the United States of America, Katherine Tai, and South Africa Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel in Geneva.
He noted that India will not buckle under any pressure. Goyal said, "There is no power on earth that can put pressure on today's India. No one can pressurise today's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. We can face any challenge. We don't take any decision under pressure."
India also warned the WTO about any agreement on curtailing subsidies in fisheries. Goyal said that we must not repeat mistakes of the past. He added, "Fishing by my country's traditional fishermen and women is to address hunger, poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, which is largely sustenance fishing. Their right to life and livelihood cannot be curtailed in any manner."
Meanwhile, there is a discussion in the WTO on issuing a declaration that says countries will not impose export restrictions on the procurements made by WFP (World Food Programme). About 81 countries have sponsored this declaration, reported news agency PTI.
Earlier on Sunday India was part of the G33 Ministerial Meeting organised by Indonesia where Goyal said, "We are fighting for developing countries and LDCs. They are always at the receiving end." He mentioned the Uruguay agreement and how the developing world got a raw deal in the past.