Goyal pushes inclusive WTO reforms at 14th Ministerial Conference

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal led the Indian delegation at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday, held in Yaounde, Cameroon, calling for transparent and inclusive reforms in the multilateral trading system.The two-day conference commenced with a ceremonial session chaired by Cameroon’s Trade Minister and attended by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, along with trade ministers and senior representatives from member countries. India was represented at the opening session by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
Addressing a ministerial discussion on key structural issues within the WTO, Goyal underscored the need for reforms to be undertaken through a transparent, inclusive, and member-driven approach, with development remaining central to the process. He reiterated the importance of preserving the WTO’s foundational principles, including non-discrimination, consensus-based decision-making, and equity among member nations.On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal held discussions with Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, where both sides explored avenues to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation between India and Cameroon. He also met with Okonjo-Iweala to deliberate on the conference agenda and pressing global trade concerns.Further, the minister engaged in bilateral talks with his counterparts from the Netherlands, France, and Ethiopia, focusing on expanding trade partnerships and enhancing economic cooperation.

Arrived in Yaoundé for the 14th Ministerial Conference of the @WTO. This is the first visit by an Indian Cabinet Minister to Cameroon in nearly 30 years, and the first ever by a Commerce & Industry Minister.

In my first engagement, attended the Ministerial Session on… pic.twitter.com/itDOEegmaM

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) March 26, 2026

Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal conducted a series of bilateral meetings with representatives from countries including Chile, Paraguay, the United States, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, New Zealand, and the European Union. These discussions revolved around advancing the WTO agenda and identifying opportunities to deepen bilateral trade relations.Negotiations with Chile and Peru included updates on ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) talks, while engagements with the European Union and New Zealand reviewed progress on recently concluded FTA negotiations.The opening day of the conference concluded with a ceremonial reception and gala dinner hosted by the Government of Cameroon, setting the stage for further deliberations at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference.