New Delhi, March 27 India on Friday said the consensus-driven decision-making process of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is non-negotiable, describing it as the cornerstone of the multilateral body.
Addressing a session on ‘Decision-Making and Past Mandates’ on the second day of the 14th ministerial conference (MC14) of the WTO in Yaounde, Cameroon, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also said there is a need to undertake a comprehensive and constructive assessment of the current situation.
"Emphasized that rebuilding trust is essential to revitalizing consensus-driven decision-making, which is non-negotiable and the cornerstone of the WTO," he said in a social media post.
The issue is important as certain developed countries are critical of the consensus-driven decision-making system at the Geneva-based multilateral trade body. Those nations are pushing for WTO reforms. They are arguing that consensus allows even a single member country to block decisions taken in the WTO meetings.
However, developing nations, such as India, support this process as it ensures an equal voice to all countries.
The minister highlighted that a truly integrated multilateral trading system can only flourish when its institutional framework remains cohesive, resilient, and aligned with the shared aspirations of its members.
"Underlined the importance of undertaking a comprehensive and constructive assessment of the current impasse, with a focus on understanding the underlying causes, while ensuring that discussions remain transparent, inclusive, and member-driven," Goyal added.
The four-day MC14 started on March 26.