India Ready to Lead WTO Reforms, but Calls for Consensus Among Developing Nations: Piyush Goyal

India has expressed its willingness to take up a leadership role in reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal underscoring that the agenda for reform must be shaped through consultation and consensus among developing and least-developed nations. Speaking at the 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025, Goyal asserted that India aims for WTO reforms that serve global welfare rather than the interests of a select few advanced economies.

“The world recognises India’s strength and leadership, and the country will continue to be the voice of the Global South,” Goyal said. He added that while India welcomes reform at the WTO, the nature of those reforms must be decided collectively by developing countries to ensure equitable and fair trade practices. This position comes amid growing pressure from developed nations, including the United States, advocating changes in the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, special and differential treatment for developing countries, and negotiation processes.

Goyal’s remarks followed discussions with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who praised India’s dynamic and innovative role, encouraging the country to actively lead the reform process. The upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference (MC) of the WTO, scheduled for March 2026 in Cameroon, is expected to be a critical forum for advancing these reforms. India is pushing for permanent solutions on issues like public food stockholding and revival of the dispute resolution system.

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged the validity of criticisms both from emerging economies and developed countries and viewed the current period as an opportunity to strengthen the multilateral trading system. She further welcomed India’s ongoing bilateral trade negotiations with the US as a positive step amid complex global trade dynamics.

India’s approach reflects its intent to balance leadership with inclusivity, aiming to protect the interests of the Global South while contributing constructively to global trade governance reforms, reinforcing its stature as a responsible global economic power.

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