India is calling for a united front among African countries to push for reforms at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal emphasized this need, highlighting the importance of addressing key issues such as food security, technology transfer, and industrial policy.
During the India-Africa Conclave, Barthwal stressed the shared interests between India and African nations regarding these topics, advocating for a unified approach in a global environment marked by fragmentation and protectionism. He highlighted the importance of upholding the priorities agreed upon at the Doha Development Round within the WTO.
To further support African nations, India has offered tailored capacity-building programs through its key institutions. These programs focus on trade facilitation, promotion, finance, policy, and negotiations, aiming to equip African countries with the tools they need to navigate the global trade landscape.
Beyond advocating for WTO reforms, India is also actively seeking to expand its trade relations with Africa. The country is planning to initiate new free trade agreement (FTA) discussions with South Africa, a significant member of the South African Customs Union (SACU). Furthermore, India recognizes the potential to increase its import basket from Africa, highlighting that 17 African countries could supply unique intermediate products currently sourced from less competitive suppliers. This move could benefit both India and Africa by enhancing trade opportunities and fostering greater competitiveness.
The growth of India-Africa trade is evident in the recent figures. In FY24, India exported goods worth $38.17 billion to African countries, with key destinations including Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania. Key products exported include petroleum products, engineering goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, rice, textiles, electronic goods, and others.
To further facilitate trade and logistics, India has announced plans to share its PM Gati Shakti master plan and the Unified Logistics Interface Portal (ULIP) with Africa. These initiatives aim to support the development of efficient logistics infrastructure and improve multimodal connectivity, ultimately reducing costs and enhancing logistics efficiency.
India is also leveraging its recent WTO case against the European Union’s stringent food safety regulations on citrus fruit, using it to advocate for relaxed standards that currently restrict Indian food exports. The EU’s regulations have significantly limited exports of Indian chilies, tea, basmati rice, milk, poultry, bovine meat, fish, and chemicals.
Despite efforts, the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, held in Abu Dhabi in February, concluded without consensus on key issues such as agriculture and fisheries. India, along with other G-33 members, opposed linking public stockholding of grains to broader agricultural trade reforms, emphasizing the need to protect their right to support their agricultural sectors without facing legal challenges in the WTO’s dispute system.
