Date: 2026-03-27Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce & Industries Minister, leads the Indian delegation for the 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO starting on March 26, 2026 in Yaounde, Cameroon
**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the commencement of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on March 26, 2026, in Yaounde, Cameroon. Led by Commerce & Industries Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, the Indian delegation is advocating for transparent, inclusive, and development-oriented WTO reforms. Key objectives include strengthening bilateral trade ties and advancing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with multiple global partners.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**WTO Reform and Foundational Principles**
* India calls for WTO reforms to be Member-driven, transparent, and inclusive, with development as a central priority.
* The delegation emphasized the necessity of upholding foundational WTO principles: non-discrimination, equity, and consensus-based decision-making.
* The opening session included a celebration of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force on September 15, 2025.
**Bilateral Trade Engagements**
* Minister Piyush Goyal held high-level talks with the Prime Minister of Cameroon to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
* Meetings were conducted with the Director-General of the WTO to discuss the specific agenda of MC14.
* Bilateral discussions aimed at deepening trade ties were held with counterparts from the Netherlands, France, and Ethiopia.
**Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Progress**
* Delegates touched base on the status of ongoing India-Chile and India-Peru FTA negotiations.
* The Indian delegation took stock of the progress toward signing the recently concluded India-EU FTA.
* Updates were exchanged regarding the progress of the India-New Zealand FTA negotiations.
**International Cooperation**
* Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal held meetings with representatives from the US, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Brazil, and several other nations to explore options for enhancing trade.
* Engagement was maintained with a delegation of EU Parliamentarians to discuss mutual trade interests.
**Impact Analysis**
**WTO Member Countries**
**Impact**
Member nations are being urged to adopt a reform process that prioritizes development and adheres to traditional consensus-based decision-making rather than unilateral shifts.
**Action Required**
Participate in the ministerial conversations to ensure reforms remain transparent and inclusive of the needs of developing nations.
**Indian Government (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)**
**Impact**
The delegation is actively managing multiple high-stakes trade negotiations and representing India’s interests in the global trade reform agenda.
**Action Required**
Continue bilateral negotiations to finalize pending FTAs and ensure that the WTO reform process aligns with national development goals.
**Global Trade Partners (e.g., EU, New Zealand, Chile, Peru)**
**Impact**
These partners are at various stages of formalizing significant trade agreements with India, affecting future market access and economic cooperation.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with Indian counterparts to review progress and address remaining hurdles in the signing and implementation of respective FTAs.
Key Entities Referenced
14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO (MC14): The primary international forum for trade negotiations and institutional reforms discussed in the document.
World Trade Organisation (WTO): The global organization governing international trade rules and the subject of proposed member-driven reforms.
Shri Piyush Goyal: India's Minister of Commerce & Industry who led the national delegation and articulated India's position on non-discrimination and equity.
Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: A specific international trade agreement mentioned as having recently entered into force.
Yaounde, Cameroon: The central location and host city for the 14th Ministerial Conference meetings.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce & Industries
Minister, leads the Indian delegation for the 14th
Ministerial Conference of the WTO starting on
March 26, 2026 in Yaounde, Cameroon
Piyush Goyal calls for WTO reforms to be carried out through
a transparent, inclusive and Member-driven process, keeping
development at its core
Need for upholding the foundational principles and objectives
of the WTO, mainly non-discrimination, consensus-based
decision making and equity: Shri Goyal
CIM calls on the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Cameroon, H.E.
Mr. Dion Ngute Joseph and hold talks with DG-WTO
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 8:11AM by PIB Delhi
The 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation opened in Yaounde, Cameroon, on 26
March 2026 with a ceremonial session chaired by the Trade Minister of Cameroon. The session was
attended by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG, WTO, and Trade Ministers/Senior representatives of the WTO
member countries. On behalf of India, Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal attended the opening
session. The opening session was followed by a short celebration of the entry into force of the Agreement
on Fisheries Subsidies on September 15, 2025.
Following the Opening ceremony, the Ministers met for a Ministerial Conversation on Foundational Issues
of WTO, including its principles. Speaking during the session, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Commerce and
Industries Minister of India, emphasised that necessary reform of WTO should be carried out through a
transparent, inclusive and Member-driven process, keeping development at its core, upholding the
foundational principles and objectives of the Organisation, mainly non-discrimination, consensus-based
decision making and equity.
On the sidelines of the first day of the MC14 meetings, Shri Goyal called on the Hon’ble Prime Minister
of Cameroon, H.E. Mr. Dion Ngute Joseph and discussed bilateral and multilateral issues, including ways
to further strengthen India–Cameroon cooperation. Shri. Goyal also held bilateral meeting with Director-
General of the WTO with the discussions focusing on the MC14 agenda. HCIM also held bilateral
meeting with his counterparts from the Netherlands, France and Ethiopia and exchanged views on
deepening bilateral trade ties.Commerce Secretary, Shri Rajesh Agrawal also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Chile,
Paraguay, US, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, delegation of EU Parliamentarians, Mexico, Peru,
Russia, New Zealand and the EU on the sidelines of MC-14. Discussions focused on MC14 agenda as
well as exploring options for enhancing bilateral trade ties. With Chile and Peru, both sides touched base
on the ongoing India-Chile FTA negotiations and India-Peru FTA negotiations. With the EU and New
Zealand, both sides took stock of the progress towards signing the recently concluded India-EU FTA and
India-New Zealand FTA negotiations.
The day ended with ceremonial reception and gala dinner hosted by Cameroon.
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Abhishek Dayal/Shabbir Azad
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