India faces flak at WTO for not notifying curbs

India is facing criticism from several World Trade Organization (WTO) members for failing to notify the trade body of its numerous export restrictions to secure domestic food supplies before national elections next year, three people aware of the development said

- Puja Das , Ravi Dutta Mishra

Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal will chair a high-level meeting on Friday to potentially discuss India’s priorities at WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi in February and chalk out arguments explaining New Delhi’s stance on the issue.

This comes as India, the largest rice exporter, imposed curbs on exports of the commodity after a rainfall deficit during the monsoon triggered food security concerns. Global food prices were on the rise after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and the situation was exacerbated after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Both Russia and Ukraine are major producers of wheat and oilseeds.

“Not notifying export restrictions was a conscious decision. It must be understood that export restriction is a right given to WTO members if there is a threat to food security. The WTO agreement on agriculture says the members should notify restrictions in advance ‘as far as possible’. And countries are ‘not bound by it’," one of the three people said on condition of anonymity.