India Blocks WTO Deal on Customs Rules, Angering Fellow Members

A major deal at the WTO may collapse if India vetos the deal. The WTO's deal aims to reduce trade barriers and agricultural subsidies. India is concerned with one aspect of this deal --- the part that tells India that it cannot continue to offer huge food subsidies to its poor. If India blocks the deal, it will be a major setback to the WTO in terms of its own credibility. As of now it appears that India is not willing to toe the line as it is not willing to compromise its food security programme. When Bali Agreement was signed in 2013 -- everyone hailed it as a deal that signifies that the organisation actually works. This is unfinished business from BALI and if the deal has to be torn apart and thrown into the dustbin because of this one protocol that too only because of India..that will make WTO lose face.