India
Pure Forward Its Case to WTO in Trade Policy Review Forum
1.
Viksit Bharat Vision 2047
o
India's eighth WTO Trade Policy Review is the first
during the Amrit Kaal period
(20222047).
o
The Government aims to transform India into a
developed, self-reliant, inclusive, innovation-driven and sustainable economy
by 2047.
2.
Strong Economic Growth
o
India remained the fastest-growing G20 economy in
the post-pandemic period.
o
Real GDP grew at an average annual rate of 7.3%
between FY2022/23 and FY2025/26.
o
Achieving developed-country status will require
sustaining about 8% annual growth.
3.
Domestic Demand Drives Expansion
o
Growth was led by private consumption, government
spending and infrastructure investment.
o
Government infrastructure spending increased 2.6
times over FY2020/21 levels.
o
Extreme poverty declined to 5.3% of the
population.
4.
Trade Performance
o
Trade-to-GDP ratio reached 50% before
moderating to 45%.
o
India maintained a large services trade surplus,
partly offsetting the merchandise trade deficit.
o
Remittances continued to support the external
balance.
5.
Services Lead the Economy
o
Services contributed 53.6% of GDP and about 30%
of employment.
o
Telecom, computer and information services remained
India's largest services export category.
6.
Manufacturing and Global Value Chains
o
Manufacturing remained around 1718% of GDP.
o
India is shifting toward more technology-intensive
manufacturing.
o
Participation in global value chains increased but
remains below ASEAN levels.
7.
Agriculture Remains Resilient
o
Agricultural GVA grew by 4.4% annually since
2021.
o
India remains a net agricultural exporter, with
rice accounting for 28% of agricultural exports.
8.
Rapid Digital Transformation
o
India's digital economy is growing twice as fast as
the overall economy.
o
UPI transactions increased from 4 billion to
over 18 billion per month.
o
India achieved near-universal 5G coverage and
expanded international UPI connectivity.
9.
Leadership in Digital Services
o
Digitally delivered services grew at 17.3%
annually.
o
India recorded a digital services trade surplus
exceeding US$200 billion in 2025.
o
Government launched the India AI Mission and
expanded ONDC.
10.
Foreign Trade Policy and Export Promotion
o
The 2023 Foreign Trade Policy became an open-ended
policy.
o
Export promotion focuses on duty remission,
collaboration and ease of doing business.
o
Interest Equalization Scheme ended in 2024.
11.
Expanding Regional Trade Agreements
o
India implemented FTAs with Australia, UAE, EFTA
and Mauritius.
o
Signed agreements with Oman and the UK.
o
Negotiations concluded with New Zealand and were
nearing completion with the EU at end-2025.
12.
FDI Liberalization
o
Foreign investment rules were relaxed in defence,
insurance, telecom, space, petroleum and nuclear sectors.
o
Around 90% of FDI now enters through the
automatic route.
13.
India's WTO Position
o
India supports WTO reforms that are
development-oriented and consensus-based.
o
It continues to oppose Joint Statement Initiatives
(JSIs).
o
Fisheries Subsidies Agreement ratification was still
under domestic consideration.
14.
Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernization
o
National Trade Facilitation Action Plan 3.0
launched for 202427.
o
Customs processing is almost entirely electronic.
o
SWIFT, Trade Connect Portal and Bharat TradeNet further strengthen digital trade facilitation.
o
Cargo clearance times have significantly declined.
15.
Tariff Policy
o
Budget 202526 simplified the customs duty
structure.
o
Highest BCD rates were removed.
o
Average applied MFN tariff stood at 15.7%,
while average BCD was 13.8%.
o
Duty-free tariff lines increased to 3.7%.
16.
Import Controls and Trade Remedies
o
India continues to use import licensing, minimum
import prices, tariff quotas and state trading.
o
It remains one of the world's most active users of
anti-dumping measures.
17.
Export Promotion and SEZs
o
SEZs accounted for about 21% of India's exports.
o
Export taxes and minimum export prices continue for
selected products.
18.
Industrial Policy
o
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes expanded
to 14 sectors.
o
National Manufacturing Mission launched in 2025.
o
Government support has shifted from tax incentives
to grants.
19.
Standards and SPS Measures
o
India significantly expanded Quality Control
Orders.
o
National standards increased to 22,689, with
over 9,600 harmonized with international standards.
o
Digital SPS certification systems were expanded.
20.
Competition, Procurement and Intellectual Property
o
Competition Act strengthened in 2023.
o
Government e-Marketplace became the world's largest
online public procurement platform.
o
Patent filings rose sharply, and India climbed to 38th
in the Global Innovation Index.
21.
Agricultural Policy
o
Agriculture still employs 46% of the
workforce.
o
India continues extensive food and fertilizer
subsidies.
o
MSPs remain for 22 crops, alongside PM-KISAN
income support.
22.
Energy and Minerals
o
India continues balancing renewable energy
expansion with dependence on coal and imported oil.
o
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme introduced.
o
Coal production exceeded one billion tonnes in
2025.
23.
Manufacturing Progress
o
India became the world's second-largest mobile
phone producer and fourth-largest automobile manufacturer.
o
Pharmaceutical sector supplies 20% of global
generic medicines.
24.
Financial Sector
o
Banking digitalization accelerated.
o
Gross NPAs declined from 11.5% to 2.3%.
o
Insurance FDI limit increased to 100% under
the automatic route.
25.
Telecommunications and Infrastructure
o
5G covers 99.9% of districts.
o
Internet subscriptions exceed 1 billion.
o
Multimodal logistics and port infrastructure
continue expanding.
26.
Key WTO Assessment
o
The WTO concludes that India has combined strong
domestic demand, digital transformation, manufacturing promotion and trade
reforms with continued reliance on tariffs, subsidies and trade controls.
o
Future progress toward Viksit Bharat 2047
will depend on reducing trade costs, simplifying regulation, improving
infrastructure, attracting investment and achieving a better balance between self-reliance
and greater integration into global markets.
Trade Policy Review of
India
The
Eighth review of the trade policies and practices of India takes place on 21
and 23 July 2026. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat
and a report by the Government of India.
The
following documents are available:
Secretariat report
A
detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat.
Government report
A
policy statement by the government of the member under review.
Concluding remarks
Chairperson's
concluding remarks (available the day of the second meeting)
From
the meeting
The
Secretariat and Government reports are discussed by the WTOs full membership
in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB).
Background
Trade
Policy Reviews are a WTO transparency exercise in which members' trade and
related policies and practices are examined at regular intervals. They allow
WTO members to ask questions, exchange views, and comment on each other's
policies in collective discussions held in the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body.
All
WTO members are subject to review. The frequency of each review depends on the
member's share of world trade, with the largest traders being reviewed more
frequently.