By Biswajit Dhar | Briefing Paper # 64 | February 19, 2024
Later this month, Trade Ministers of the World Trade Organization (WTO) would meet for their 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi at a time when the multilateral trading system is losing its existential battle. This “ruled-based organisation” mandated to ensure orderly conduct of global trade through a set of rules that were mostly negotiated before 1990 when the organisation had less than 100 members. Over the past four and a half decades, the needs and aspirations of members…
By Kavaljit Singh | Commentary | November 28, 2023
Hectic parleys are currently underway to incorporate a new agreement on investment facilitation at the World Trade Organization after 112 WTO members concluded text negotiations on an Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) on 6 July 2023. WTO members participating in the talks on IFDA hope that the proposed agreement will reach another important milestone at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. The Ministerial Conference is the WTO’s highest decision-making body,…
By Tathagata Choudhury | Briefing Paper # 63 | August 17, 2023
India is an attractive destination for foreign investment (among the top 10 investment-importing countries) and is increasingly growing as an outward investor (among the top 20 investment-exporting countries). and has been relatively active in signing bilateral investment treaties (BIT).
Like most older generation BITs, these treaties were negotiated to promote…
By Biswajit Dhar | Briefing Paper # 62 | July 7, 2023
One of the more significant tasks before the G20 countries is to find a lasting solution to the problem of external debt in developing countries, in particular low-income countries, whose vulnerabilities have exacerbated since the onset of the COVID-induced downturn. At the urgings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the grouping took their first initiative to address the problem of debt vulnerabilities in low-income countries during their…
By Kavaljit Singh | Briefing Paper # 61 | June 2, 2023
The G20 must address the unfinished agenda of advancing fundamental reforms of the International Monetary Fund’s resources, governance, and policy frameworks. These reforms are becoming increasingly urgent, as the global economy faces multiple challenges, from a global economic slowdown to growing debt burdens and climate change. At several international forums, including the G20, India has consistently pushed for the IMF’s quota and governance reforms. Therefore, India could make a significant contribution in this policy area under its G20 presidency.
