India begins 8th WTO trade policy review

India will undergo its eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 21 and 23, with Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal leading the country's delegation as New Delhi showcases record exports, economic resilience and recent trade reforms.Conducted once every five years, the WTO review assesses a member country's trade policies and practices. India's latest review covers the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025.
The Trade Policy Review is based on two documents — a policy statement submitted by the member country and an independent assessment prepared by the WTO Secretariat. The exercise, conducted by the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB), aims to improve transparency, predictability and understanding of members' trade policies through a peer review involving all WTO members.
According to the Commerce Ministry, preparations for India's review began in June 2025, with the Department of Commerce coordinating with more than 100 ministries, departments and organisations over a 14-month period.The government said the Indian economy remained resilient during the review period, recovering strongly from the pandemic-induced slowdown despite global uncertainties and retaining its position as the world's fastest-growing major economy.
India's combined merchandise and services exports reached a record USD 863.1 billion in 2025-26, up from USD 676.5 billion in 2021-22, underscoring the country's expanding role in global trade.The policy statement and the WTO Secretariat's report also highlight India's growing network of free trade agreements (FTAs), reforms to streamline the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and digital initiatives such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other technology-driven measures to facilitate trade.
The review has attracted significant attention from WTO members. As of July 20, more than 900 questions had been submitted seeking clarifications on India's trade policies, covering areas including digitisation, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women's participation in the economy, the Viksit Bharat vision and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
More than 40 WTO members are expected to make statements during the two-day review. The Indian delegation will respond to members' questions, present the country's trade policy priorities and outline its vision for future economic and trade engagement.The Trade Policy Review is one of the WTO's key transparency mechanisms, providing member countries with an opportunity to examine each other's trade policies and practices through a comprehensive peer review process.