An old tussle between economic globalisation and political sovereignty has once again come to the fore with India’s decision not to ratify the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). This may seem odd because the TFA is essentially meant to smoothen the procedures for goods to cross national borders. Sovereignty has come into the picture because the Indian government has made its ratification of TFA contingent on a simultaneous change in WTO rules that would enable it to continue its food security program.
WTO deal: can India now reframe power equations of globalisation?
Gateway House's Senior Gandhi Peace Fellow Rajni Bakshi's article on the developments at the WTO written for the Gateway House website was republished in the online news site Firstpost