The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded on March 30, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, after five days of intensive negotiations. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal led India's delegation and stated that India's position was "not only heard but also reflected in the Ministerial decisions."
India asserted several key positions at MC14. First, on WTO reform, India stressed that institutional reform must remain transparent, inclusive, and member-driven, preserving the foundational principle of consensus-based decision-making. Goyal reaffirmed that no member nation should be compelled to accept rules without agreement, underlining sovereign decision-making.
Second, India opposed incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement as an Annex 4 agreement into the WTO framework, arguing that investment rules fall outside the WTO's mandate.
Third, on agriculture, India emphasised the need to resolve the "permanent solution" for public stockholding for food security, noting that the current impasse stems from a trust deficit. India highlighted that food security for developing nations must not be sacrificed at the altar of trade liberalisation.
Fourth, on digital trade, India supported work on reducing the digital divide, building digital infrastructure, and developing regulatory frameworks, while advocating for developing countries' interests.
The conference also addressed fisheries subsidies implementation, e-commerce moratorium extension, and reform of the dispute settlement mechanism. MC14 reaffirmed the WTO's role as the central forum for multilateral trade, with India playing a key role in articulating the Global South's priorities.