WTO urges India to cut trade-restrictive measures reliance, New Delhi flags global non-tariff barriers
A report on India’s 8th Trade Policy Review (TPR) said India’s policy framework continues to rely on relatively high tariffs, import and export controls, state trading enterprises and extensive budget support programmes. It was also stated that India aims to increase its share in global goods exports from 1.8 percent in 2024 to 10 percent by 2047.
New Delhi said in its report that rising geopolitical tensions and non-tariff measures by some trading partners, including complex standards, conformity assessment procedures and regulatory requirements, were restricting market access.
The TPR meeting at the WTO is scheduled to be held on 21 and 23 July.
Looking ahead, real GDP growth in the short term is estimated to range between 6.8-7.2% in FY28, continuing the strong growth trend recorded during the review period, during which India was the fastest growing G20 economy, the multilateral trade watchdog said.
“Looking ahead, sustaining strong economic performance… will require addressing structural challenges, including high trade costs, regulatory complexity, infrastructure gaps and barriers to deeper global integration,” the WTO said, while encouraging India to reduce reliance on trade-restrictive measures that could support more efficient resource allocation and competitiveness.
“As India aims to expand its role in global trade, diversify its exports and meet its long-term development goals, its balance between self-reliance and openness, as well as its participation in and reform of the multilateral trading system, will continue to be key determinants of its future growth and resilience,” the WTO report said. Over the next three days, WTO members will evaluate India’s trade performance from 2021 to end-2025 based on the WTO Secretariat’s report. and the report of the government of India.
New Delhi said in its report that trade performance in recent years has been affected by a number of external challenges, such as global supply chain disruptions resulting from geopolitical tensions, the pandemic, climate-related events and export controls by some countries, which have “adversely affected the availability and cost of critical inputs”.
“In addition, problems of overcapacity and overproduction in certain sectors have led to trade distortions and price fluctuations in international markets. India is also facing the increasing use of non-tariff measures, including complex, by some of its trading partners.”
India, standards, conformity assessment procedures and regulatory requirements,” he said.
These resulted in “restriction of market access of Indian industry in foreign markets”.
In the multilateral sphere, India believes that adherence to WTO rules for global trade must continue and that its trade policy will remain firmly aligned with the broader reform agenda, strengthened and strengthened while deepening integration with the global economy.
Multilateral trading system based on fair rules. India aims to preserve the development priorities and legitimate policy space of the Global South as it moves towards its long-term goal of achieving upper middle-income status by 2047, the centenary of its independence.
