The WTO 2025 WTO report has shown that India remains significant among countries whose policies have been questioned, even though it was actively involved in technical work on plans and announcements.
According to the report, the quantitative limitations of India on pulses have been re -controlling from Australia, Canada and the European Union. Her QCOS on tires and air conditioners also attracted questions from members, including the European Union, Indonesia, Chinese Tai -Piej (Tai -wan) and Thailand who claimed that such measures could reduce access to the market and increase the burden on adherence to exporters. China raised concerns about pocket lighters, while Japan and Thailand did so for air conditioning. Interestingly, the US has not caused any concerns about moving India to introduce the QCOS series.
QCOS are mandatory government regulations that require specific products to meet the designated Indian standards and carry the Indian standards (BIS) brand (BIS) before they can be sold, sold or imported. QCOS, issued by various ministries, protects consumers from non -standard goods, supports quality and prevents the import of poor quality items by serving as a non -tariff barrier.
“Uncertain position”
India becomes independent in air conditioning, because the government system of motivation (PLI) for white goods for white goods has significantly reduced imports of compressors and is expected to make the compressor production of 8 million units by 2028-29, after three stages of PLI, which were listed between April 2021 and January 2024.
Business experts noted that India was in a fine position. “When using QCOS and import restrictions to strengthen domestic production, its exporters face challenges from the rules associated with sustainability and mutual tariff. This double pressure attracts India deeper into WTO disputes, even though it negotiates bilateral trade agreements,” said Vinod Kumar, President of India Sme Forum.
Mint reported 9th September The fact that India was under fresh control on the WTO that she did not respond to questions related to agricultural trade that had accumulated for more than ten years. According to the Secretariat report, the country has the longest list of waiting questions in the WTO. The updated note of the WTO, issued by September 8, was given 186 unanswered questions from 2013 to 2023 and another 51 since 2024, of which 30 expected from September 5th.
Finger on pulses
Indian quantitative limitation of pulses imports – which are particularly important due to the position of the country as the largest buyer of the lens and peas in the world – faced a pushback from Australia, Canada and the European Union. Australia and Canada are the main suppliers of pulses to India, which also import smaller amounts from EU members such as France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
According to the WTO EU, it supported the Australian and Canadian attitude to imports for pulses, and urged India to have a more open, more open and transparent import and tariff regime for certain pulse varieties.
India tightened its import policy on impulses by re -introducing duties for several varieties and temporarily allowing access to some without duty. Since April 1, 2025, the imports of Chan (Black Gram) are 10% Obligable after the government has terminated an earlier exception. Similarly, from March 8, 2025, the lens (Masor) began to attract 10% of the run, which included 5% basic customs obligation and 5% agricultural infrastructure and development.
Imports of Moong continue to face limitation in accordance with the wider strategy of the protection of domestic farmers. On the other hand, until March 31, 2026, a yellow peas and Turo gave a duty to be relieved to alleviate the lack of local vans.
Other imports of import licensing and regulatory requirements have been referred to as potential obstacles in the store, such as importing imports and restrictions on wooden plates and viscose fibers – both marked with Thailand.
In December 2022, the Ministry of Textile announced Viscose Staple Fiber QCO, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry issued the QCO wooden councils in March 2024. In September 2025, India imposed an import restriction on the chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry until 30 September 2026.
Questions sent to the Ministry of Trade remained unanswered at the time of publishing.
Indian defense
India advocates these measures and claimed that QCOS was supposed to ensure consumers’ safety, reduce non -standard imports and support the domestic industry in meeting quality benchmarks. The new Delhi claimed that the introduction of standards and restrictions was well under the WTO rules unless they were non -discriminatory and justified on the basis of security and public interest.
Regarding the import limitation for pulses, the new Delhi in its submission stated at the formal meeting on April 9 that the measures taken by India were taken to maintain food and nutrition safety. “This is of great importance for our economics and import policies are regularly reviewed and updated. Trade measures related to the import of pulses are in accordance with the relevant WTO agreements and the procedures of these agreements,” he said. India also emphasized compliance with the versatile obligations by submitting its biennial announcements of quantitative restrictions for 2024-26.
The Indian also stated that, according to Article XX (general exceptions) of the General Agreement on tariffs and trade, the country was allowed to adopt rules on the protection of human, animals or plants or for public interest, provided that these rules were fair and not used to discriminate or block trade.
Counterattack
During discussions on the WTO panel, India also moved back against the obstacles facing foreign markets. The new Delhi expressed concerns about commodities without deforestation of the European Union, which could disrupt Indian consignments of coffee, skin and several agricultural goods. He also identified the mechanism of modifying the boundaries of the EU carbon boundaries, aka carbon tax, which is expected to increase the costs of steel and aluminum exporter as a restrictive trade. India has also joined the wider negotiations on the resistance of the supply chain and the “ecologization” of the harmonized system, which shows its intention to influence discussions on environmental measures.
In addition, India has caused problems with access to the market in Thailand for agricultural commodities and food products and problems with the market access to the pharmaceutical sector. All these problems will be discussed at the formal meeting of the Committee on 15-16. October.
(Tagstotranslate) access to the market WTO
