G20 trade ministers reach consensus on food weapons as Goyal reports food safety concerns | Today’s news
New Delhi: Trade ministers from the Group of Twenty (G20) countries have reached agreement on a joint statement against the use of food coercion through trade measures, representing consensus on an issue increasingly linked to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.
At the G20 trade ministers meeting in Milwaukee, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal called on countries to protect food security while ensuring that domestic measures taken to stabilize supplies and prices are not seen as trade distortions.
The agreement comes at a time when developing economies are still dealing with the aftermath of conflicts that have disrupted markets for food, fuel and fertilizer. Goyal said the lack of fertilizer could lead to a wider food crisis, with the effects most severe in countries in the Global South.
India clarifies that its food stockpile and procurement measures were temporary and meant to ensure the availability of cereals in the country. In addition, New Delhi asserted its support for the WTO-led trading system while calling for greater policy flexibility for developing countries.
The ministers adopted the resulting document, titled “G20 Declaration on the Weaponization of Food through Enforced Trade Actions,” and expressed their intention to continue working together on the issue, the Commerce Department said in a statement.
The Minister referred to existing mechanisms such as the G20 Agricultural Market Information System established in 2011 and the exemption from export restrictions for World Food Program purchases adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference.
Goyal is on a week-long visit to the US from September 29 to October 5 to attend the G20 trade ministers’ meeting held in Milwaukee on September 30 and October 1 at the invitation of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Bilateral agreements, meetings with other nations
On the sidelines of the meeting, Goyal and Greer also discussed India-US trade relations and ongoing negotiations on an interim agreement under the India-US bilateral trade agreement. The meeting was aimed at deepening the understanding reached in the February 7 India-US joint statement, according to official statements.
The two sides also exchanged views on the meeting of G20 trade ministers during the US presidency.
Goyal also held bilateral meetings with trade and economic officials from Brazil, Poland and the European Union (EU). His discussions with the EU included progress on the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Separately, the minister spoke with US manufacturing and technology leaders at a roundtable organized by the National Association of Manufacturers. He called on US companies to deepen investments and partnerships in India, including greater engagement with Indian SMEs to build resilient supply chains.
Earlier Thursday, Goyal joined G20 trade ministers and Greer in a visit to Rockwell Automation’s office and factory in Mequon, Wisconsin.
He also held bilateral meetings with the Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services and the Minister of Foreign Affairs; US Trade Representative; European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Commerce; Mexican Minister of Economy and Polish Minister of Finance and Economy.
Goyal also attended a welcome dinner hosted by Greer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
