WTO - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: New Delhi

Explanation:

• The Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations at WTO provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the rules on anti-dumping so that its application becomes fairer, objective and transparent.
• The Delhi Regional Anti-Dumping Workshop for Asian Investigating Authorities organised in New Delhi by the World Trade Organisation and the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade brings together 37 senior officials from 18 investigating authority systems.
• Senior experts from developing countries in the Asian region, along with select developed countries like Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan and the United States are participating in the workshop.
• This Workshop is a unique and the only event of its kind globally.
• The Workshop aims to assist Asian developing WTO Members' investigating authorities to further enhance their technical capacity to conduct anti-dumping investigations in a fair and efficient manner, in conformity with WTO rules.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Under the WTO norms, subsidies refer to financial contribution (loan, loan guarantee, grant, import duty exemption, equity infusion, fiscal incentives and purchase of goods) by the government or state agencies resulting in advantages to those players availing it. Action against subsidies is meant to level the playing field.
  
• The government has set up a special cell to compile information on subsidies given by other countries to their industry.
• The constitution of the special cell — as well as proposed measures including changes in laws such as Customs Act —is also aimed at indirectly helping India Inc file applications before the government seeking imposition of anti-subsidy duties on subsidised imports of items, such as steel, harming local industries.
• The development comes in the backdrop of slowdown in global trade and measures taken (including against merchandise exports from India) by several countries such as the U.S. to protect their domestic industries from unfairly low-priced imports.
• Government also wishes to boost local manufacturing through initiatives such as Make In India, Start-up India and Digital India.

ANSWER: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali

Explanation:
- Cotton-4 countries of WTO are West African coalition seeking cuts in cotton subsidies and tariffs.
- They composed of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Ministerial Conference usually meets every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions.
- The 10th ministerial conference took place in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015.
- WTO commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
- Belarus remains one of the very few countries in the world that does not belong to the WTO. To name but two issues, the overwhelming role of the state in the economy and its extensive agricultural subsidies are the clearest obstacles for Belarus' accession to the WTO.

ANSWER: Afghanistan

Explanation:
- Afghanistan has become the 164th WTO member
- It has became the 36th least developed country (LDC)to join the global trade body after 11 years of negotiations.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The venue for 9th Ministerial Conference was Bali, Indonesia where Bali package was approved.
- It is aimed at lowering global trade barriers and is the first agreement reached through the WTO that is approved by all its members.
- The package forms part of the Doha Development Round, which started in 2001.
- Tenth ministerial conference will be held 15-18 December 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.