-The Hindu Business Line Against postponing resolution and plans to expand provisions for LDCs alone India is resisting attempts by developed nations to “draw a wedge” between developing countries and LDCs in the ongoing negotiations for subsidising public stockholding programmes at the WTO, under the garb of offering an early resolution, and has asked poorer nations not to fall into the trap. “At the WTO agriculture committee on Monday, some developed nations, such...

-The Hindu Business Line Says small fishers need government protection; advanced nations must stop subsidising high-sea fishing India has rejected the latest draft text on curbing fishery subsidies floated by the WTO earlier this week for not adequately addressing its concerns on food security and livelihood of small fishers while including provisions that could help advanced countries perpetuate their huge doles for long-distance fishing. Please click here to read more.  ...

-The Hindu An upbeat global trade scenario provides an ideal setting for Trade Ministers to correct iniquitous rules and provisions The World Trade Organization (WTO)’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) is being convened in Geneva, Switzerland at the end of this month, a year-and-a-half after it was scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan (June 2020, but postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic). The MC12 is being held at an important juncture when...

-Newsclick.in It appears the stage is being set to scuttle India and South Africa’s IP waiver proposal with regard to Covid vaccines and technology ahead of the 12th WTO Ministerial this month-end. At various global fora, Big Pharma and rich countries have been steadfastly pushing the focus toward supply-side bottlenecks of vaccines and unequal distribution of doses in a bid to steer the discourse away from the more contentious issue of patents...

One is almost certain to hear this from an economist that if something is available at free of cost or at a subsidised rate thanks to government intervention, then people tend to overuse or overconsume such goods/ commodities. So, the best solution is to create a market for such 'almost freely available' or 'highly subsidised' goods or commodities. Once people start paying to use or consume such goods/ commodities, they...