India's Advocacy for Technology Transfer at WTO
India has called on developed countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound and advanced technologies to benefit developing and least-developed countries (LDCs).
Key Points Highlighted by India:
- India emphasized the barriers faced by developing economies and LDCs in acquiring, adapting, and using critical technologies.
- Challenges include:
- Export controls on crucial components like semiconductor chips and rare earth minerals.
- Inflexible intellectual property regimes.
- India seeks a fair and equitable share in international trade, advocating for the removal of barriers caused by restrictive intellectual property practices.
Proposals and Suggestions by India:
- Developed countries should share:
- Information on regional and sector-specific technology needs.
- Experiences and best practices regarding technology transfer.
- Address the barriers related to high costs of technology access, funding needs, and domestic capacity constraints.
- Encouragement of greater participation of poorer nations in trade in services and expansion of their service exports.
Examination of WTO Agreements:
- India has suggested a detailed examination of technology transfer-related provisions in WTO agreements, including:
- Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
- Agriculture, technical barriers to trade.
- Sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
- Advocacy for operationalization of TRIPS flexibilities relevant to technology transfer.
Future Roadmap:
- India has proposed a time-bound roadmap for realizing measures for technology transfer by the next ministerial meeting.
- Focus on achieving economic, developmental, and trade gains through the transfer of relevant and advanced technology.
