An old tussle between economic globalisation and political sovereignty has once again come to the fore with India’s decision not to ratify the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). This may seem odd because the TFA is essentially meant to smoothen the procedures for goods to cross national borders. Sovereignty has come into the picture because the Indian government has made its ratification of TFA contingent on a simultaneous change in WTO rules that would enable it to continue its food security program.
India: WTO, sovereignty and trade – analysis
An article written for the Gateway House website by Rajni Bakshi, Senior Gandhi Peace Fellow, Gateway House, on the recent developments at WTO was republished in the Eurasia Review. The article examines India's stand over the Trade Facilitation Agreement