Last Updated on March 28, 2026 2:38 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN / NEWS DESK
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that rebuilding trust is essential to revitalising consensus-driven decision-making, which is non-negotiable and bedrock of the World Trade Organisation. Mr Goyal was addressing a Ministerial Breakout Session at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Cameroon.
In a social media post, the Minister said, a truly integrated multilateral trading system can only flourish when its institutional framework remains cohesive, resilient, and aligned with the shared aspirations of its members. He also stressed the importance of undertaking a comprehensive and constructive stock-take of the present impasse, with a focus on understanding the underlying causes, while ensuring that discussions remain transparent, inclusive, and member-driven.
The Minister also held productive discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the Conference. Both leaders exchanged views on the agenda of the conference and next steps in the India-US BTA negotiations and explored ways to further deepen economic cooperation and bilateral trade ties. Further, Mr Goyal also met South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo and exchanged views on ongoing WTO reform discussions and explored avenues to further strengthen bilateral trade ties, with a focus on India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement upgrade.
Mr Goyal reviewed ongoing work towards the signing of the recently concluded India-New Zealand FTA with New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. They discussed avenues to further enhance bilateral trade and investment while strengthening cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest. The leaders also exchanged the progress of the conference agenda.
The Commerce Minister discussed key elements of the Conference agenda and reviewed the implementation of the landmark India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with Switzerland State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda. They exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral investments and deepening economic partnership to drive shared growth and prosperity.