Indian Diplomacy toward the World Trade Organization

Subject Areas : International Relations

Seyyed Jalal Dehghani Firouzabadi ^{1 *} , Mohammadhossein Monadizadeh ²

1 - Professor of International Relations at Allameh Tabataba,i University
2 - Political Science & International Relations Department, Faculty of law and political science, Allameh Tabatabae,i University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2017-12-09 Accepted : 2017-12-09 Published : 2017-11-22

Keywords: World Trade Organization, India, Emerging Powers, international institutions, Indian Diplomacy,

Abstract :

Abstract: India has been referred to as one of the emerging economies since early twenty-first century. Rapid growth of GDP and imports/exports along with attraction of substantial foreign direct investment are indicators of the enhancement of India’s position in global economy. In such circumstances, India is also gaining influence in multilateral trade negotiations within WTO framework. Given the important role that multilateral economic institutions play in shaping the contemporary political and economic interactions and due to India’s more rigorous stance in the Doha Round, this article uses descriptive-analytic method and library resources to interpret this policy shift. It also emphasizes on economic reforms, domestic-international interaction, and WTO structure as effective components in this policy shift and simultaneously examines Indian diplomacy and negotiation strategy. This article tries to answer this question: what is India's orientation in WTO? It hypothesizes that India agrees with the WTO's principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures. The article concludes that Indian position toward WTO talks is no longer concentrated on introducing intrinsic changes in order to stand against this organization; rather, it is taking advantage of its new alliances and negotiation methods as a means of economic diplomacy to shape India’s and other emerging countries’ economic demand.