trade negotiations under wto: issues before …€œtrade negotiations under wto: issues before...
TRANSCRIPT
Report on National Seminar
(“Trade Negotiations under WTO: Issues before Developing World”)
National Seminar “Trade Negotiations under WTO: Issues before Developing World”
The regulations and practices governing global trade have been contentious from the very advent
and expansion of modern capitalism around the globe. Bitter historical experiences of the
imposition of colonial free trade policies pursued by most developed countries have made
developing countries always suspicious of slogan of free trade. The uneven influence of
developed countries and their lobbying in the WTO has been able to protect the core interest of
developed countries (Global North) and has marginalized the interests of developing countries
(Global South) in pursuit of free trade. This undue influence of global north in setting the rule of
global trade regime favorable to their geo-political interest has curtailed the space to pursue
independent development policies in developing and under developing countries, there by
adversely impacting interest of larger number of poor and marginalized living in these countries.
Further, emergence of multiple Bilateral and Plurilateral trade agreements (NAFTA,
MERCOSUR, SAFTA)among various countries, regions and the strong emergence of MNCs
where the bargaining power of developing countries are severely curtailed, the academicians and
researchers have started questioning the relevance of WTO as forum to promote rules and
governance for free trade. Similarly the rising popularity of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP),
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) only shows the future of multilateral trade agreement is filled with
uncertainty.
Contrary to its claim of addressing the issue of least developed countries, the recent tenth
ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization‟s (WTO) at Nairobi failed to reach
agreement on the important developmental issues which can adequately address the concerns of
provision of food security, public health, protection of poor farmers, reduction of poverty and
non-tariff barriers(NTB).The asymmetric treatment of agricultural subsidies from developed
countries and the imposition of multiple non-tariff barriers to developing countries‟ exports have
not been eliminated. Also, the lack of consensus in reaffirming Doha Development Agenda
(DDA) in Nairobi makes developing countries skeptical about the assertion of developmental
agendas in further trade negotiations under the WTO. In this background, shyam lal college
organized national seminar on “Trade Negotiations under WTO: Issues before Developing
World” which is the contextual need of the hour. Objectives of the seminar were as follows:
• This seminar has discussed and deliberated upon various types of challenges and opportunities
faced by developing countries under the current multilateral trade regime under the aegis of
WTO.
• Explore the possibility of strengthening the voice of developing countries in the future trade
negotiations.
• To analyses and discuss the future and relevance of multilateral trade negotiations in view of
recent emergence of bilateral trade agreements.
• Evaluate the impact of trade negotiations on addressing major developmental challenges of
food security, public health, environment sustainability and access to education.
• To examine the impact of GATS on maintain financial stability in developing countries.
Conference Themes :
• Future of Doha Development Round.
• Trade and Food Security.
• Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBS) Faced By Exports of Developing Countries.
• Financial Services Liberalization and Financial Stability Concerns.
• Political Economy of Trade Negotiations.
• Emergence of RTAS/BTAS and Relevance of Multi-literalism in W.T.O.
• International Patent Regime and Public Health Concerns.
• Asymmetric Treatment of Agricultural Subsidies of Developing Countries and Developed
Countries.
• GATS and Its Implication on Access to Education for Poor.
• Trade and Environment Issues.
Seminar Committee: Dr. Rabi Narayan Kar (Seminar Patron), Principal, Shyam Lal
College, Mr. Sanjeev kumar (Convener), Dr. Supriti Mishra, Dr. Bharat Garg, Mrs. Jyoti
Atri, Ms. Suman, Mr. Jitender Kumar, Mr. Dawa Sherpa, Ms. Anchal Arora, Mr. Khirod
Kumar.
Sponsors: University Grants Commission., Marvy Groups –a partner in corporate growth, RBL
Bank, S. Chand Group- a publishing house.
UGC Sponsored Two Days National Seminar -2016 (Day–I &II)
Speakers and dignitaries: Dr. Rabi Narayan Kar, Principal, Shyam Lal College, (University of
Delhi), Dr. A.K. Dubey, Special Secretary, Ministry of Coal Govt. of India, Prof. Praveen Jha,
Chair Person, Center for Economics Study and Planning, School of Social Science, Jawahar Lal
Nehru University, Sh. Rishi raj, Executive Editor, Financial Express, Prof. Jayati Ghosh,
Center for Economics Study and Planning, School of Social Science, Jawahar Lal Nehru
University, Dr. Rohit Azad, Associate Professor, Center for Economics Study and Planning,
School of Social Science, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Prof. Badar Iqbal, Department of
Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Utter Pradesh, Prof. Bhanumurthy,
Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Dr. Dibyendu
Maiti, Associate professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Prof. S.K. Singh,
Professor (Retd.), Indira Gandhi University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, Prof. Param
jit, Associate Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Sh. V.K. Puri,
Associate Professor (Retd.), Shyam Lal College,(University of Delhi), Dr. Narender Thakur,
Associate Professor, Bhim Rao Ambedker College, University of Delhi, Sh. V. K. Garg,
Associate Professor (Retd.),Shyam Lal College, (University of Delhi), Dr. Anish Gupta,
Assistant Professor, Bhim Rao Ambedker College, University of Delhi, Dr. Rajeev Kumar,
Associate professor, Sri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Dr. A.N.
Gupta,(Coordinator, IGNOU), Associate Professor, Shyam Lal College, University of Delhi, Dr.
Surya Prakesh, Assistant Professor, Sri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Prof.
Surender Kumar, Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi,
Sh. K.C. Ganjwal, Member, Governing Body, Shyam Lal College, University of Delhi, Sh.
Keshav kumar, Chairperson‟s Nominee, Governing Body, Shyam Lal College. Welcome
address: At the beginning of the National Seminar, welcome address was given by Mr. Sanjeev
Kumar Convener, seminar committee and Dr. Rabi Narayan Kar, Seminar Patron for National
seminar on "Trade Negotiations under WTO: Issues before developing world."
UGC Sponsored Two Days National Seminar -2016 (Day–I &II)
Keynote Lecture one: The first keynote speaker of seminar, Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Professor,
Centre for economic Study and Planning, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, spoke
about the contemporary challenges faced by developing economies in field of trade negations
under WTO. Under the deflationary policies pursued by most of developed economies has
reduced the size of global market and it has direct negative consequences in terms of reducing
export demand from developing countries. So, under the pressure of slowing global economy the
world trade volume growth has also slow down. She pointed out the asymmetric treatment given
to agricultural subsidies of developed countries and the challenges it posed to the agricultural
dependent economies from developing region. Large amount of subsidies given by developed
countries to its agriculture is considered as falling under category of non-market distorting
subsidies and exempted from the restriction proposed under WTO in subsidies to agriculture.
She also highlighted the plethora of artificial created restriction imposed by developed countries
on export from developing countries in from non-tariff barriers measures like sanitary and
phyto-sanitary restrictions. With rise of multiple bilateral trades arrangement has also eroded the
importance of WTO as forum to promote global trade. She ended her lecture by suggesting that
developing countries should bargain as unified block and pursue trade while protecting their core
interest. Key note Speaker Two: The second keynote speaker Prof. Praveen Jha Chairperson,
Centre for economic Study and Planning, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, gave his lecture on
importance of negating the influence of WTO on industrial polices and having independent
domestic industrial polices to pursue industrialization in developing region. He cited multiple
example from developing countries which had pursued the policies of free trade but successfully
industrialized because of existence of their own independent domestic industrial polices. He also
argued that protection of labour interest in vital during any change in domestic industrial policies
induced by implementation of WTO rules.
He argued that historically precursor of WTO, GATT had provision for protection of interest of
labour which got diluted under new regime of WTO. He summed up his lecture by endorsing
move from WTO to GATT like trade deal framework. First session was based on W.T.O. and
Developing Countries and it was chaired by Dr. Rohit Azad, Associate Professor,
CESP/JNU/New Delhi. Under this session three paper were presented by Mr. Khirod Kumar
Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi on “WTO and Financial Stability:
Empirical Evidence from India” Dr. Sunil Kumar on “India’s Position in WTO-GATS: An
Assessment of Regional Trade Agreements On Business and Financial Services” Dr. Arifa
Khan on “Implication of NTB for developing countries: A case study of India”. Plenary
Session on Trade Liberalization and Strengthening of Developing Economies chaired by
Prof. Badar Iqbal, Department of Economcs, AMU. Prof. Bhanumurthy, Department of
Commerce, DSE, New Delhi, Dr. Dibyendu Maiti, Associate professor, Delhi School of
Economics"Trade Negotiations under WTO: Issues before developing world“. Concurrent
Session on “WTO and Environmental Issues” Chaired by Prof. S.K. Singh, Professor (Retd.)
IGNOU. Prof. Param jit, Associate Professor, Delhi School of Economics paper presented on
“Free trade and its impact on the environment” by Rubina Pradhan “Issues for Negotiations
under Doha round on RTAs: India’s Stance at WTO” by Dr. Devender Singh Hooda “ Dr.
Ambedkar, labour Question and W.T.O.” by Mr. Santosh J. After the successful completion of
the inaugural session and paper presentation at the first day of the seminar, second day starts
with a huge gathering at the seminar Hall of Shyam Lal College on 5th of April. There were
several paper presenters, who presented on different issues linking to the WTO and its objectives
and functioning. The first session of the second day was chaired by Dr. V.K Puri, Associate
Professor (Retd.) and Dr. Narendra Thakur, Associate Professor, University of Delhi, who are
elite experts in the field of education and the role of WTO.
The first presentation was by Ms. Jyoti Atri who presented her paper on “GATS, Trade in
Higher Education: Consequences for Developing Countries”. Her argument focused on the
commodification of higher education and that leads to growing interest of business groups in
education sector of developing countries and discusses the implication of this move for the
education sector and economy of the developing countries especially with reference to India.
Second paper was presented by Ms Kokila Meena, Ph.D scholar from JNU on “Education under
GATS agenda and its implication for marginalized sections of India”. She highlighted on the
issues like how GATS has different impact on marginalized section of the people in India. She
tries to answer the questions like what is the importance of education. Why WTO members
wanted to include education in GATS agenda? What is the Indian government stand on GATS
negotiation on education? What are the implications for the marginalized sections in India? The
third presentation was by Dr. Gayatri Chaturvedi, Assistant professor at Shyam Lal College. Her
theme of presentation was historical aspects education and WTO. The paper was entitled as
“Development of Trade Routes and Strategies in Ancient India”. The last presentation was
given by Mr. Vikas Giri on “Promotion of Trade Agreements through Internationalization of
Education by World Trade Organization” The first session ended with lots of discussion of the
presented papers and suggestions by the chair. The second session of the second day elaborated
and highlighted the issues like food security and WTO. The session was chaired by Associate
Professor V.K. Garg and Dr. Anish Gupta The first paper presenter was by Shilpa Chaudhury on
“WTO and food security: Issues a, challenges and implications for India”. She focused on
different problems of agricultural trading and suggested different policies to revamp agricultural
sector. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for massive agriculture reforms aiming at
creation of a vibrant agricultural sector that produces quality food items at reasonable cost
and a „cushioning‟, active, vigilant state machinery that takes quick actions in response to
fluctuations in world prices. For example, purchasing food and filling the buffer stock during
low price regime and disposing the surplus in a high price regime. The second paper presenter
was by Nidhi Chaudhury and Nisha Singh on “Role of media in trade and food security: A
perceptional study of Delhi youth”. They had focused on the role of media in trade and food
security. Their basic argument was the role of media in creating awareness about food security
and consumer rights; simultaneously keeping a check at the companies and government to
ensure the food quality and sensitivity towards the same. The study reveals that in spite of being
aware about food adulteration these products are consumed freely and the manufactures or
sellers are having a heyday. Media can play an important role in creating sensitization about
food security in India. The last paper presenter of the session was by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar on
“Effect of Trade Negotiations on food security in India- A Descriptive Analysis”.
The next session highlighted issues on agricultural growth, exports and role of trade. Most of the
paper presenter highlighted that India has comparative Advantage in agricultural commodities
and GCC countries have strong comparative Advantage in Mineral fuels. To keep in mind that
India has unfavorable trade balance with GCC countries and large numbers of Indians are
migrated in GCC Countries, study suggested that India must focus to increase export of
agricultural goods to GCC countries. As the economy gets diversified the non-agricultural
commodities acquire greater importance in the product mix, and also in exports. India being the
no exception also experienced a steady decline in the agriculture exports over the years.
However, the establishment of WTO and India being signatory to Agreements on Agriculture
defined a new era of competition and survival and the country witnessed a fresh approach
towards agriculture exports in terms of scientific cultivation, agriculture diversification, quality
control measures, government support and so on. Despite the decline in the agriculture export
share in total exports over a period of time, this very sector is experiencing a rapid transformation
which can be gauged in terms of changes in its composition and direction of trade. The present
paper attempts to address such issues in a holistic manner and analyses the agriculture export
performance during the both pre and post WTO phase (Madhur & Mohit).
India-ASEAN bilateral trade agreement was signed in 2009 to escalate economic growth and
foster trade relations which came into effect from 2010. This FTA is expected to cover around 2
billion individual and aims to slash tariffs of over 4000 product lines. India‟s export to ASEAN
surged from 2.73 USD billion in 1995 to 31.29 USD billion in 2014 which dipped from 37.89
USD billion in 2013. For primary commodities this figure burgeoned from 1.17 USD billion to
16.77 USD billion. Share of both total and primary exports to ASEAN remained sluggish
comparing with the India‟s world exports. Out of 100% India‟s total exports of primary to the
world, share of exports to ASEAN in 2014 was 14.54% and for all products the value was 9.86%.
Intra-industry trade using Grubel-Lloyd (GL) index is evaluated at three digit commodities level
to analyses the scope and potential of India-ASEAN agricultural trade. For all products traded
with ASEAN the value of GL Index was 0.80 in 2014 surging from 0.55 in 2000. In the past one
and a half decade trade with ASEAN became more intra-industry. If we look the value of index of
agricultural commodities, more than half of the primary commodities possess the index value
close to 0.1-0.2 which indicates inter industry trade. Preserved Fish and meat, dried fruit and
nuts, preserved fruits, spices and chocolates reflects intra industry trade. Balassa Index suggests
India possess comparative advantage in most of the agricultural commodities including Rice,
Meat of bovine animals (fresh or frozen), Crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic invertebrates, tea,
spices, cotton, vegetables fibers, crude vegetable material. On the other hand ASEAN economies
have weak revealed comparative in primary products as the value of Balassa Index was 1.09 and
increased to 1.66 in 2013 (Abhishek Jha).
UGC Sponsored Two Days National Seminar -2016 (Day–I &II)
The Parallel session “W.T.O. and Developing Countries” was chaired by Dr. Surya Prakesh,
Associate Professor, Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi and Co-Chair by Mr.
Sanjeev Kumar, Assistant Professor, SLC, and University of Delhi. Papers were presented on
general Issues of developing countries by Mr. Kishor Dere, Ms. Saru Lakshmi Mr. Vikas Saharan
Dr. Vandana Raghava Dr. C.M. Meena & Dr. Muraree Lala Meena. Mr. Jitender Kumar,
Dr. Joginder Singh, Dr Kavita Arora and many other scholars.
The seminar ended with a valedictory address by Prof. Surender Kumar, Delhi School of
Economics. He emphasized on the environmental issues such as environmental degradation and
BOP crisis etc. the vote of thanks was by Dr. Bharat Bhushan. He thanks to the entire paper
presenters, session chairs, Principal, sponsors, and our beloved students. Important outcomes and
recommendations from the academic deliberations of the experts and resource persons from the
academia and industry in various sessions and presentations on the related theme during the two
days of the National Seminar.
1. The recent tenth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization‟s (WTO) at Nairobi
failed to reach agreement on the important developmental issues which can adequately
address the concerns of provision of food security, public health, protection of poor farmers,
reduction of poverty and non-tariff barriers(NTB).
2. The asymmetric treatment of agricultural subsidies from developed countries and the
imposition of multiple non-tariff barriers to developing countries‟ exports have not been
eliminated.
3. Asymmetric treatment given to agricultural subsidies of developed countries and the
challenges it posed to the agricultural dependent economies from developing region.
4. With rise of multiple bilateral trade arrangements has also eroded the importance of WTO as
forum to promote global trade.
5. Prof. Jayati Ghosh suggested that developing countries should bargain as unified block and
pursue trade while protecting their core interest.
6. Prof. Praveen Jha argued that historically precursor of WTO, GATT had provision for
protection of interest of labour which got diluted under new regime of WTO.
7. Ms. Jyoti Atri argument focused on the commodification of higher education and that leads to
growing interest of business groups in education sector of developing countries and discusses
the implication of this move for the education sector and economy of the developing
countries. She suggested eradicating business groups from higher education sector.
8. Dr. Kokilla Meena suggested to control the intervention of big business house in education, the
international organizations particularly W.T.O.
9. Dr. Shilpa Chaudhary suggested that emphasizing the need for massive agriculture reforms
aiming at creation of a vibrant agricultural sector that produces quality food items at reasonable
cost and a „cushioning‟, active, vigilant state machinery that takes quick actions in response to
fluctuations in world prices.
10. Discussion was focused on Importance of media and GATS. Being a representative of
multilateral institutions, GATS reflects a policy frame work only to facilitate trade and lacks to
provide social and security to the workers. Social security must be provided to the workers.
*Thanks for Interaction*