India Defends Nine WTO Trade Disputes

India is currently defending nine disputes at the World Trade Organization, as announced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in the Lok Sabha. The Department of Commerce has engaged the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, the Centre for WTO Studies and empanelled law firms, spending about Rs 2.43 crore on legal services so far, with further costs dependent on case progress.

The disputes involve challenges from Japan over iron‑and‑steel safeguard measures, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala over sugar and sugarcane support and alleged export subsidies, and the European Union, Japan and Chinese Taipei over tariff treatment of certain ICT products. India maintains that its measures comply with WTO commitments and notes that appeals are pending because the WTO Appellate Body is not functioning.