Trade: India blocks IFDA at MC14 (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
India on 28 March appears to have single-handedly blocked the incorporation of the proposed Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), while around 130 members supported its integration, said people familiar with the development.

MC14: Draft declaration on WTO reform reflects concerns of five nations (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
A "draft Yaounde Ministerial Declaration on WTO Reform" apparently issued by the Norwegian foreign minister on 28 March night appears to have been amended to reflect the concerns raised by five countries - the United States, Paraguay, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh - at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, said participants familiar with the development.

MC14: JSI plurilateral on e-commerce concludes without US participation (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
A large group comprising some 66 countries on 28 March announced the conclusion of their Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) "Declaration on Interim Arrangements for Agreement on Electronic Commerce", with the United States not joining the proposed plurilateral agreement, said participants familiar with the development.

Trade: US kills any outcome on agriculture at MC14 (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
The United States on 27 March appears to have killed any outcome on agriculture at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, after insisting on its textual formulations to delete any reference to past ministerial outcomes, as demanded by India and the Cotton Four (C-4) countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad, said people familiar with the discussions.

MC14: Digital trade talks split over permanent vs. interim e-com moratorium (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yaounde)
A decision on the duration of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions appears to be going down to the wire, as the United States wants a permanent moratorium while many developing countries have suggested that it should be around two-plus years but not permanent, said people familiar with the negotiations.