Asia Press Agency

Tag: Multilateralism

  • Challenges and Priorities for the WTO Ahead of MC-13

    Challenges and Priorities for the WTO Ahead of MC-13

    The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC-12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in June 2022 injected a sense of optimism into the multilateral trade arena, raising hopes for the continued relevance of multilateralism in a world marked by increasing fragmentation. As the WTO prepares for its next gathering, MC-13, scheduled for February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, several critical issues and priorities demand attention and negotiation.

     

    • Dispute Settlement Reform: The WTO’s dispute settlement system has faced challenges since 2019, primarily due to the United States blocking the appointment of members to the Appellate Body. Although technical discussions have taken place, there’s yet to be a formal process for members to fulfill the MC-12 commitment to establish a “well-functioning dispute settlement system” by 2024. The urgency and commitment to delivering on this pledge, reiterated in the G20 New Delhi Declaration, need to be reflected in formal discussions.

     

    • Agriculture: Developing countries have specific concerns related to the rules for agriculture. These concerns include the need for (a) a permanent solution for public stockholding (PSH) for food security purposes and (b) a special safeguard mechanism (SSM) to mitigate the risks posed by agricultural market instabilities. While the 2013 Bali Decision on PSH provided an interim solution, more than 80 developing countries proposed a permanent solution for PSH in the run-up to MC-12, which remains unresolved. The SSM, designed to protect developing countries from import surges, has been under discussion for over a decade.

     

    • The challenge in the lead-up to MC-13 is that the summary of the Senior Officers Meeting (SOM) on agriculture only makes peripheral references to PSH and SSM. Moreover, it blends these specific concerns with broader agricultural reform issues. While addressing issues like market access and trade-distorting domestic support is important, mixing them with PSH and SSM issues may hinder meaningful progress on the latter. It’s crucial that members reiterate their commitment to addressing PSH and SSM promptly and separately from other agricultural reforms.

     

    • Fisheries Subsidies: The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a crucial outcome of MC-12, left two areas for further deliberation at MC-13: disciplines for overcapacity and overfishing. Balancing the interests of coastal areas in developing countries, which rely on fish for both livelihood and food security, with capacity-enhancing industrial fishing is a key challenge. Additionally, addressing fishery activity in the high seas, particularly research on marine genetic resources (MGR), requires a balanced approach. It’s essential to provide policy space for developing countries to develop capacity in high seas fishing through appropriate subsidies to ensure equitable access. This aspect has not yet found consensus in the proposed disciplines.

    In the upcoming MC-13, the WTO must navigate these challenges and arrive at agreements that work for all its 164 members. This is critical for preserving the WTO as a truly multilateral institution, rather than a platform exclusive to some members. In the concluding part of this series, other priorities such as WTO reform and e-commerce will be discussed. The outcome of MC-13 will play a significant role in shaping the future of global trade and economic relations.

  • India’s Emerging Foreign Policy Trends: G20 Summit

    India’s Emerging Foreign Policy Trends: G20 Summit

    The recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi garnered positive attention and showcased India’s ability to host a successful global event amid complex geopolitical and developmental dynamics. While the summit addressed pressing global issues, it also shed light on significant trends in India’s evolving foreign policy.

     

    One notable trend is the remarkable convergence between India and the United States. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership at the G20, with unwavering support from U.S. President Joe Biden, underscores the transformation of a relationship that now exerts global influence. Previously, India and the U.S. often found themselves at odds on international platforms, but today, Washington is willing to step back to advance India’s interests, recognizing that India-U.S. cooperation is pivotal in shaping global outcomes. This convergence enhances India’s ability to leverage its shared interests with the U.S. effectively.

     

    This growing American support also extends India’s influence across the broader Western world. While Europe initially hesitated to back India’s stance on Ukraine, Washington played a crucial role in bridging the gap. India recognizes that, in the context of China’s rising prominence in global priorities, robust engagement with the West is imperative. Despite challenges related to Ukraine, India’s ties with the West have been fortified.

     

    India’s foreign policy acumen is evident in its handling of relations with Russia. India remains committed to maintaining communication channels with Moscow while respecting its ties with other nations. The recent New Delhi Declaration and India’s approach to the Ukraine issue at the G20 reflect this delicate balance. Navigating relations with a declining power presents diplomatic challenges, but India is keen to address Russian concerns and prevent any perception of abandonment.

     

    China played a prominent role at the G20, showcasing its obstructionist tendencies. India, in turn, demonstrated its ability to collaborate with like-minded nations to counter Beijing’s actions. The threat of being perceived as a ‘spoiler’ by a significant portion of the global community compelled China to engage constructively. However, the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the emerging fault line between China and India on the global stage. The optimism surrounding potential China-India collaboration at the global level has waned, giving way to a more pronounced dichotomy.

     

    India’s global outreach to traditional and emerging stakeholders, from Africa to the Middle East, was on display at the G20. This outreach is characterized by pragmatism rather than old-style Third Worldism. India is pursuing clearly defined objectives by building ad hoc coalitions of like-minded actors. A self-confident and self-assured India is charting a new course in global politics, unburdened by past ideological baggage.

     

    The G20 Summit offered insights into India’s foreign policy trajectory, highlighting its deepening partnership with the U.S., strengthened ties with the West, nuanced handling of Russia relations, and the ability to collaborate with like-minded nations. India’s role in the evolving global landscape reflects a nation pursuing its national interests with pragmatism and confidence. The success at the G20 is a testament to India’s ability to navigate complex international dynamics while staying true to its objectives.

  • Putin Virtually Participates in BRICS Summit

    Putin Virtually Participates in BRICS Summit

    Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit virtually. During his address, he announced that Russia will assume the BRICS chair next year and outlined the theme of strengthening multilateralism for global development and security during its chairmanship. Putin mentioned that Russia plans to organize about 200 political, economic, and public events, with the BRICS Summit scheduled for October 2024 in the city of Kazan.

     

    The BRICS Summit brought together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa. While Putin did not attend the event in person, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led the country’s delegation.

     

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of the BRICS summit as a platform for discussing cooperation and institutional development among the member nations. He expressed appreciation for BRICS becoming a forum for addressing concerns of the Global South and the reform of the multilateral system. Modi also mentioned his expectation of holding bilateral meetings with other leaders present at the summit.

     

    During his visit to South Africa, PM Modi met with President Cyril Ramaphosa to review bilateral relations and discuss coordination at multilateral bodies. The leaders expressed satisfaction with progress in various fields, including defense, agriculture, trade and investment, health, conservation, and people-to-people ties.

     

    PM Modi is also anticipated to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting is significant as it takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

     

    China’s President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for expanding political and security cooperation to maintain peace and tranquility. He highlighted the challenges of the geo-political situation and urged BRICS countries to consolidate their strategic partnership. Xi also called for supporting each other on core interests, enhancing coordination on major international and regional issues, and using mechanisms like the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to push for political settlements and reduce tensions.