Discuss the significance of the WTO's Trade Policy Review mechanism in ensuring transparency in member states' trade regimes. Evaluate India's recent Eighth TPR in this context.

Q. Discuss the significance of the WTO's Trade Policy Review mechanism in ensuring transparency in member states' trade regimes. Evaluate India's recent Eighth TPR in this context. (15 marks, 250 words)

The Trade Policy Review (TPR), operated by the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body, is a peer-monitoring tool that periodically examines members' trade regimes to strengthen adherence to WTO rules and enable collective dialogue — not adjudication [1].

Significance for transparency - Peer scrutiny: members question policies openly; India's Eighth TPR drew 1,094 written questions from 44 members and interventions by 68 members [1]. - Independent baseline: the Secretariat report (WT/TPR/S/488, 244 pages) offers a verified account of tariffs, subsidies and remedies, curbing information asymmetry [2]. - Predictability: regular five-yearly reviews deter arbitrary shifts, aiding traders and investors. - Dialogue over dispute: friction is aired before escalating to the Dispute Settlement Mechanism.

Evaluating India's Eighth TPR Strengths — - First review under Amrit Kaal (2022–47); India showcased GST rationalisation, UPI, Digital Public Infrastructure and customs modernisation as facilitation reforms [1]. - Multilateral credibility signalled via acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies [1].

Concerns flagged — - High agricultural and industrial tariffs, defended as protecting small farmers and supply-chain resilience [1]. - Frequent trade remedies — 226 anti-dumping investigations (2021–25) and reliance on the Lesser Duty Rule [2]. - Persistent MSME integration gaps in global value chains.

The Eighth TPR affirms that transparency and developmental space can coexist: India defended its policies while accepting scrutiny. Deepening tariff calibration and MSME competitiveness, aligned with SDG-17 on multilateral partnerships, would let a developing economy convert openness into durable global trade leadership.

(~250 words)

Sources: 1. India Concludes Eighth Trade Policy Review at WTO in Geneva — PIB (23 July 2026) — participation (68 members, 1,094 questions), DPI/GST/UPI reforms, fisheries subsidies, tariff defence, Lesser Duty Rule 2. WTO Secretariat Report WT/TPR/S/488, Trade Policy Review: India (26 May 2026) — 244-page baseline report, 226 anti-dumping investigations (2021–25), trade-remedy data