Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Review Meeting of WTO
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 84 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  JULY, 2017

## REVIEW MEETING OF WTO

## 84. SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has called for a review meeting to promote connectivity through digital trade in developing countries this year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the experts in India have expressed apprehensions that this attempt by the WTO may be a backdoor attempt to push e-commerce and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether India is already facing resistance by its domestic small trader lobby over allowing  foreign  direct  investment  in  e-commerce  and  is  keen  to  conclude  the pending food security related issues before allowing any fresh issues to be taken up by the WTO and if so, the details thereof including the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)The sixth Aid for Trade Global Review will took place at the WTO on 11-13 July 2017. The Aid for Trade initiative was launched in 2005 with the aim of addressing the supply side and trade-related infrastructure constraints that often hamper developing countries' participation  in  global  trade.  The  2017  Global  Review  is  dedicated  to  the  theme  of 'Promoting Trade, Inclusiveness and Connectivity for Sustainable Development', and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to look at how Aid for Trade can contribute to the integration of developing countries and least developed countries into the multilateral trading system and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Aid for Trade Global Review 2015 highlighted how high trade costs slow growth and development by pricing many suppliers in developing and least developed countries out of global markets. The 2017 Global Review develops this theme further by extending analysis of trade costs into the area of digital connectivity. The Review will discuss the economic consequences of the digital  divide  and  strategies  to  help  policymakers,  firms,  women  and  SMEs  to  bridge  this divide.

(b)The  definitions  of  digital  trade  and  e-commerce  require  further  deliberation  at  various bodies of the WTO to bring clarity on the scope of the subject. E-commerce presently is not on the agenda of the WTO.

(c)  FDI  policy  in  different  sectors  including  on  e-commerce  sector  is  formulated  after extensive consultations with stakeholders including concerned Ministries/Departments concerned and apex industry chambers .

India  has  been  working with  WTO members especially the developing countries to ensure that its interests in the WTO negotiations are protected.  Implementation of Bali and Nairobi Ministerial  Decisions,  especially  on  public  stockholding  for  food  security  purposes  is  a priority  for  India  in  the  negotiations  and  India  is  working  for  a  permanent  solution  in  this area.

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