Piyush Goyal Calls Consensus Core to WTO Credibility at Global Trade Meet

Yaounde, Cameroon, March 28, 2026; Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed India’s strong stance on preserving consensus driven decision making at the ongoing WTO Ministerial Conference 14, stating that it remains fundamental to the legitimacy and credibility of the World Trade Organization.

Addressing fellow trade ministers during deliberations on reform, Goyal stressed that no member nation should be compelled to accept rules without agreement, highlighting the importance of respecting sovereign decision making. He also called for rebuilding trust among members and ensuring that discussions remain transparent, inclusive and driven by all participants.

India raised concerns over structural imbalances rooted in the Uruguay Round, urging that longstanding issues such as food security and support for developing economies must be prioritised alongside new reform agendas. The minister pointed out that without a functional dispute settlement system, global trade rules risk losing effectiveness, particularly impacting smaller nations.

Highlighting the need for equitable growth, India emphasised that all countries must have a fair opportunity to strengthen productive capacity, generate employment and actively participate in global trade. It also cautioned against using transparency measures as tools for trade retaliation, advocating instead for capacity building support for developing members.

During a ministerial session on transparency and reform, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal reiterated India’s support for restarting WTO reform efforts within a defined timeline supported by clear milestones. He warned against selective approaches to reform and stressed the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms through a bottom up approach involving WTO committees.

India also expressed concern over plurilateral agreements, cautioning that such arrangements could weaken the multilateral framework by creating divisions within the system. The delegation maintained that reforms must remain open, participative and consensus based.

On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal held bilateral discussions with counterparts from several countries including the United States, China, South Korea, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Morocco and Oman, focusing on both WTO related matters and opportunities to enhance trade partnerships.