India, March 6 -- The 13th ministerial conference (MC) of WTO (World Trade Organisation) held on February 26-29, 2024 in Abu Dhabi has ended in a deadlock. This is because India leads about 80 countries-the G33 including India, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, together called ACP-on - on one hand and the European Union (EU) and the USA representing the developed countries on the other didn't budge from their respective pre-meditated positions.

On the most important issue of finding a permanent solution to the public stock-holding (PSH) programme for food security, India's stance was vehemently opposed by the USA/EU. Currently, under India's PSH programme, government agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) buy agri-prod...