India on the Mat over MSP on Wheat Export Subsidy, Pulse Stocking

In a Committee meeting, Australia asked why the Indian government had continued to raise minimum support prices for wheat to close to US$320 per tonne, given that world wheat prices remain much lower at around US$147 per tonne. Purchase prices depended on cultivation costs as well as market prices, New Delhi responded.

Canada, the EU, Ukraine, and the US were among the WTO members also expressing interest in this question.

In a separate question, the US also conducted a detailed breakdown of the cost of wheat exported from India’s stocks, estimating that this was US$35 more per metric tonne than the minimum export price established by the government.

Canada also asked why India was creating a two million tonne buffer stock of pulses.

India is also being questioned on non-furnishing of agri subsidy detail to WTO since 2010.