India won't wilt under WTO pressure on food export decision
New Delhi/IBNS: Remaining firm in its own stance despite facing international pressure, India has made it clear to the World Trade Organisation that it won't review its decision to ban the export of food grains, media reports said.
India was in the centre of the debate at the WTO, which holds once-in-a-two-year meetings of trade ministers from 164 countries, regarding New Delhi's food export ban.
Food security became the central topic of the 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in the wake of food shortage triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"While many countries are concerned over a looming food crisis, India’s responsibility to provide food to its 800 million poor and vulnerable population will not be compromised upon," a senior trade negotiator for India told moneycontrol.
The comment came in the backdrop of a proposed global declaration on the third day of the summit to not curb foodgrain exports to the World Food Programme (WFP), which fights hunger in places affected by conflicts, disaster, climate changes et al.
India's firm decision will undoubtedly defeat the proposal of the global declaration while many countries are closely watching New Delhi's steps.
India and other developing countries run major stockholding programmes which enable them to purchase, stockpile and distribute food grains.
(Images: PIB, Wikipedia and WTO website)
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