Parliament Question: World Trade Organisation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2721 ANSWERED ON 04/08/2026 WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION 2721. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a) the number of complaints that are currently pending against India before the World Trade Organisation (WTO); (b) the details of countries that have filed such complaints; (c) the major grounds for each complaint; (d) the substance of the reply submitted by India against such complaints; (e) the names of experts and entities whose services have been employed to deal with the complaints pending at the WTO; and (f) the amount of funds spent on employing the services of such experts and entities and the estimated expenditure likely to be incurred for the resolution of such pending complaints? ANSWER वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) to (f) There are currently nine disputes pending against India under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), commonly referred to as the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), namely DS518, DS579, DS580, DS581, DS582, DS584, DS588, DS642 and DS644. Detailed information on these disputes is available in the public domain. A brief summary of the key aspects of each dispute is provided below: S. NO. Dispute Complainant Details 1. DS518 India - Japan • This dispute concerns Japan's Certain Measures challenge to India's safeguard on Imports of Iron measures on certain iron and and Steel Products steel products. India maintained that the measures were WTO- consistent and continued to apply them until they expired in the 1ordinary course. India has appealed the Panel Report, and the appeal remains pending due to the non-functioning of the WTO Appellate Body. 2. DS579 India - Brazil • These disputes concerned India’s Measures domestic support to sugarcane Concerning Sugar producers and alleged export and Sugarcane subsidies for sugar. The complainants alleged that these measures are inconsistent with provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) as well as Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM). • India contested these claims 3. DS580 India - Australia before the WTO panel and Measures maintained that its sugar support Concerning Sugar policies and export-related and Sugarcane schemes are in accordance with its WTO commitments and rights under the Agreement on Agriculture and the SCM Agreement. • These measures have continued for the benefit of sugarcane producers. India has appealed the 4. DS581 India - Guatemala Panel Report, and the appeals Measures remain pending. Concerning Sugar and Sugarcane 5. DS582 India - Tariff European • These disputes concern the tariff Treatment on Union treatment accorded by India to Certain Goods in certain Information and the Information and Communications Technology Communications (ICT) products. Technology Sector • The complainants alleged that India has applied customs duties, in excess of the bound rates recorded in India’s WTO 26. DS584 India - Tariff Japan Schedule, thereby according less Treatment on favourable treatment to these ICT Certain Goods in goods in violation of GATT 1994. the Information and • India has defended these Communications measures before the WTO Panel, Technology Sector inter alia, contending that they are consistent with its rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements. The measures continue to remain in force in 7. DS588 India - Tariff Chinese Taipei furtherance of their policy Treatment on objectives. Certain Goods in • India has filed an appeal against the Information and the Panel Reports in DS582 and Communications DS584, whereas the adoption of Technology Sector the Panel Report in DS588 is being mutually deferred to negotiate a Mutually Agreed Solution (MAS). 8. DS642 India – China • China has challenged certain Measures Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Concerning Trade schemes relating to Advanced in the Automotive Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery and Renewable Storage, Automobiles and Auto Energy Technology Components, Electric Passenger Sectors Cars, and High Efficiency Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Modules, as well as India's tariff measures on certain technology products. • China alleges that the measures are inconsistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), and the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs Agreement). • India has defended the measures, contending that they are consistent with its rights and obligations under the WTO 3DS644 India- China Agreements. The measures Measures continue to remain in force. Concerning Trade • Panel proceedings are ongoing in in Goods in the DS642, while the Panel is yet to Solar Cell, Solar be constituted in DS644. Module, and Information Technology Sectors The Department engages the services of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), and empanelled law firms for representing and assisting in the defence of India's interests in WTO disputes. As per available records, an amount of approximately Rs. 2,42,58,260 has been incurred towards the services of empanelled law firms in relation to these nine disputes. Since the proceedings are ongoing, any further expenditure is contingent upon the progress and requirements of the respective disputes. ***** 4