India opposes “trade and investment facilitation” item in WTO General Council agenda

A meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was suspended on May 10, 2017 after India objected to the adoption of the proposed agenda, which included a “trade and investment facilitation” item. According to India, the topic falls outside the scope of the WTO.

Attempts to start discussions on investment facilitation at the WTO are being led by Brazil, China, Russia and the MIKTA coalition (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia), with support from several developed countries. Most developing countries remain opposed to such attempts, arguing that WTO rules on investment facilitation would reduce their policy space.