VISAKHAPATNAM: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India is ready to take a leadership role in driving reforms at the World Trade Organization (WTO), but stressed that any changes must be shaped through consensus with developing and least-developed countries to ensure they serve global interests rather than the priorities of a few advanced economies.
Goyal said India is recognised globally for its strength and responsible leadership, and will continue to be the voice of the Global South.
“We would love to lead WTO reforms. But these reforms must be decided in consultation with developing and least-developed nations, so that they benefit the world and not just a handful of developed countries,” he said at the CII Partnership Summit 2025.
He was responding to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s remarks urging India to assume a leading role in the reform process. Several developed countries, including the US, have been pushing for changes in areas such as dispute settlement, special and differential treatment, and negotiation procedures—talks that have gained momentum in recent years. India, however, maintains that all reforms must be agreed upon by consensus.
Goyal said he discussed the upcoming 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC) in Cameroon next March and a range of reform-related issues during his meeting with the WTO chief on Friday. India, a WTO member since 1995, continues to press for a permanent solution on public stockholding and the revival of the dispute settlement system.
Okonjo-Iweala, speaking separately to reporters after meeting Goyal, said strengthening the multilateral trading system is essential and urged India to take the lead. Calling India dynamic and innovative, she said it can play an “extremely important” role at the next MC and share best practices with other developing nations.
She added that concerns raised by India and other emerging economies—as well as those highlighted by the US—are valid, and that the current global challenges provide an opportunity to address systemic issues and reinforce the WTO.
Okonjo-Iweala also welcomed India’s ongoing bilateral trade negotiations with the US, which has imposed high unilateral tariffs.
