India’s eighth Trade Policy Review has concluded at the WTO in Geneva, with 68 WTO Members intervening across two July sessions.
For textile and apparel exporters and importers, the review signals continued scrutiny of tariffs, customs, quality orders and trade remedies.
India said reforms, FTA strategy and customs simplification support a predictable trade and investment regime.
India received 1,094 written questions from 44 WTO Members during the review. During the two review sessions held on July 21 and 23, 2026, 68 WTO Members made interventions.
India’s official delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, who told the WTO Membership that reform is a continuous process and reaffirmed India’s commitment to an open, transparent and predictable trade and investment regime.
He said India’s tariff reforms, customs simplification measures and FTA strategy have strengthened the country’s integration with the global economy while supporting domestic development objectives.
Responding to issues raised by WTO Members, Agarwal said India’s trade policies are guided by WTO-consistent principles while balancing the developmental needs of a large developing economy.
He added that the agricultural tariff structure is intended to safeguard small, low-income and resource-poor farmers, while industrial tariffs support supply-chain resilience, diversification and domestic manufacturing capabilities.
On sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical regulations and trade remedies, he reaffirmed India’s commitment to transparency, stakeholder consultations and adherence to WTO rules.
He also mentioned that India’s Quality Control Orders are aimed at legitimate public policy objectives, while trade remedy investigations are conducted transparently, based on objective evidence, due process and judicial oversight.
WTO Members also highlighted India’s work in Digital Public Infrastructure, customs and trade facilitation modernisation, innovation and startup initiatives, regional trade agreements and efforts to integrate micro, small and medium enterprises into global value chains. They also welcomed India’s acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
On WTO reform, India reiterated support for an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system, while saying reform should remain development-oriented, preserve policy space for developing countries and deliver on existing mandates.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk
