Representatives from 50 countries will meet in New Delhi today for a two-day informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference. The meeting will offer an opportunity to take on for free and frank deliberations with the hope that it will lead to political guidance on some key issues.

“The informal meeting of ministers will provide an opportunity to engage in free and frank discussions with the hope that it will lead to political guidance on some major issues,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

It will look at the major issues both at the negotiating table and also in additional areas.

Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia had stated lately that the meeting would be more of an “ice-breaker” as it is being held after the collapse of talks at the Buenos Aires WTO Ministerial in December.

When asked if there would be a statement by the Chair at the conclusion of the meeting, she had said it would be for the mini-ministerial to make a decision.

The ministry’s statement further stated, “In the absence of ministerial guidance at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference (MC 11) that took place from 10 to 13 December 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it is hoped that the New Delhi meeting will provide an opportunity for ministers to explore in greater detail the options on different issues for re-invigorating the WTO.”

It added that safeguarding and strengthening the multilateral trading system was never as important as it is today, and the WTO is also in front of systemic challenges, mainly its dispute settlement arm.