Centre for WTO Studies

03/03/2026

The Centre for WTO Studies is pleased to announce the publication of a new research journal article in Foreign Trade Review by SAGE Publications.

The paper titled “Have the Non-tariff Measures and the FTAs Impacted Food Security Challenges?” by Dr. Murali Kallummal (Head-Admin, CRIT & Professor, CWS), Ms. Simran Khosla (Research Fellow, CWS), and Mr. Ankit Kundu (Young Professional, CWS) examines the impact of market access barriers particularly sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT) on agricultural trade flows of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the context of rising global food insecurity.

Using empirical analysis, the study shows that while SPS measures tend to restrict exports due to their technical and financial demands, TBT measures can, under certain conditions, enhance trade by encouraging quality compliance. For the two of the 15 NTMs, the authors have used the online database of the Centre for WTO Studies, on SPS measures and TBT Measures . The findings are based on an empirical assessment of ten exporting and ten importing countries. The exporting countries were shortlisted based on the World Bank’s latest (2023) classification of LMICs while the importing countries were selected based on their status as some of the most prolific users of NTMs.

A key policy takeaway is that the impact of non-tariff measures depends critically on their design and institutional context. When embedded within Free Trade Agreements through regulatory cooperation, harmonisation, and compliance support, these measures, particularly the TBT, can shift from being trade barriers to becoming catalysts for agricultural trade and food security.

Read the full article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00157325261420592

This publication reflects CWS’s continued commitment to rigorous, policy-relevant research on multilateral trade and development.

Amid escalating trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts and climate-induced disruptions, global food systems face mounting instability. Within this evolving land...

16/01/2026

📰 CWTOS research featured in the media

We are pleased to note that India Today has published an article titled “How India’s manufacturing future rides on ceramics,” drawing on insights from CWTOS’s recent policy brief on advanced ceramics.

Authored by Anilesh Mahajan, the article reflects key findings from the brief, highlighting the strategic role of advanced ceramics across semiconductors, electric mobility, aerospace & defence, medical devices, and clean energy, as well as the importance of strengthening domestic capabilities in high-value process technologies.

It is encouraging to see research from the Industrial Supply Chain Series at the Centre for WTO Studies contributing to broader public and policy discussions on industrial policy, advanced materials, and manufacturing competitiveness.

📘 Industrial Supply Chain Series | Policy Brief No. 2- “Critical Materials for Critical Industries: India’s Advanced Ceramics Opportunity,”

🔗 Full article: https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india-today-insight/story/how-indias-manufacturing-future-rides-on-ceramics-2851847-2026-01-14

Pritam Banerjee Kashika Arora

As India designs a National Mission for Manufacturing with cleantech focus, advanced ceramics are emerging as the hidden materials that could make or break plans

09/01/2026

📢 New Policy Brief | Industrial Supply Chain Series
The Centre for WTO Studies is pleased to share the second policy brief in its Industrial Supply Chain Series, examining advanced ceramics: a critical input shaping India’s industrial and technological future.

👉 By analyzing global trade patterns, value-chain concentration, and India’s production landscape, the brief outlines a clear pathway for India to move from demand-led import dependence to domestically anchored, high-value manufacturing.

📘 “Critical Materials for Critical Industries: India’s Advanced Ceramics Opportunity”
Co-authored by Dr.Qayoom Khachoo, Dr. Kashika Arora and Dr. Pritam Banerjee

🔹 Why it matters
Advanced ceramics quietly power India’s future industries:
* Semiconductors
* Electric Mobility
* Aerospace & Defence
* Medical Devices
* Clean Energy
(Invisible inputs. Strategic impact.)

📊 Key insight
India’s demand for advanced ceramics is rising rapidly, driven by industrial upgrading and technology-intensive manufacturing. Domestic supply, however, has not kept pace.

⚠️ The core challenge
Production remains concentrated in low- and mid-technology segments, while high-value stages are still import-dependent:
* High-purity powders
* Advanced sintering (HIP)
* Precision machining
* Functional integration

🛠️ The policy pathway
The brief identifies how India can close this gap through:
* Mission-linked support for mid-stream process technologies
* Shared infrastructure for sintering, machining, and testing
* Translational pathways for bioceramics and strategic materials
* Targeted global technology partnerships aligned with EV, semiconductor, defence, and hydrogen missions

📑 Read the full policy brief:
https://wtocentre.iift.ac.in/Brief/Brief2_Advanced_Ceramic_080126.pdf

04/12/2025

The Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in collaboration with the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, Ministry of External Affairs is proud to host Specialised Training Programme on Emerging Issues in WTO, Sustainability and International Trade 3-12 December 2025 at NAFED House, New Delhi.

The programme was inaugurated with the welcome address by Dr. Pritam Banerjee (Head, CWS) and vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Murali Kallummal (Professor & Head Admin., CRIT). The inaugural session set the tone for ten days of in-depth learning and discussion on contemporary WTO issues, bringing together experts and participants in an engaging platform for exchange.

Following the inauguration, Session 1 provided an overview of WTO and Outcomes of MC13, where Prof. Murali Kallummal presented the coverage and scope of the multilateral trade system, offering participants a strong grounding in the institutional and legal architecture of the WTO.

In Session 2 Dr. Talha Akbar Kamal (Consultant, CWS) and Dr. Suvayan Neogi (Consultant, CWS) introduced the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and unpacked the complexities of agricultural negotiations in the Doha Round. Their lecture highlighted key issues for developing countries, including domestic support, export subsidies, and market access, while also linking these debates to the broader sustainability agenda.

In Session 3, Shri. Jayant Dasgupta (Former Ambassador of India to the WTO) took a sessiom on Changing Dynamics of Global Trade.

02/12/2025

The Centre for WTO Studies, in collaboration with CII and ISAS-NUS, successfully kicked off a new dialogue series on "Growth of Digitally Delivered Services: Opportunities and Challenges."

From trade policy to geopolitical hurdles, our High-Level Roundtable brought together experts from government, think tanks, and industry to map out the future of India's digital exports. A big thank you to all participants for catalyzing such a meaningful discussion. Stay tuned for the next instalment!

Special thanks to Sumanta Chaudhuri, Amitendu Palit, Geethanjali Natarajan

Participants included Dr. Harsha Vardha Singh, Ranjeet Chaudhuri, Shivendra Singh, Priya Mallik, Arjun Goswami, Dr. Abhijit Mukhopadhyay among others