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India’s Conditions for Plurilateral Agreements under the WTO

  • 18 Sep 2026

On 16 September 2026, India put forward a proposal on World Trade Organization (WTO) reforms that could facilitate the integration of plurilateral agreements into the WTO framework.

  • The proposal followed India’s strong opposition to plurilateral agreements at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference, held in Cameroon in March 2026.

What is Plurilateral Agreement?

  • A plurilateral agreement is a trade agreement negotiated among a group of WTO members rather than among all WTO members.
  • It can become part of the WTO’s official rulebook only if all WTO members agree to its inclusion.

Reason for India’s Opposition

  • India’s concern is that these pacts would act against developing nations’ interests, including India.
  • A number of developed countries have opposed India’s public stockholding programme on grounds that they are distorting trade.

India’s Conditions for WTO Plurilateral Agreements

  • Right to Opt Out: Members should be free to stay out without losing existing WTO rights.
  • Developing Country Safeguards: Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) must remain central.
  • Protect Core WTO Functions: Resources should not be diverted from technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries.