UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization to be held in Yaoundé from 26–29 March 2026 under Cameroon’s chairmanship

Q1. Under the Marrakesh Agreement, which WTO body discharges the functions of the Ministerial Conference during the intervals between its sessions?

• A. General Council
• B. Trade Policy Review Body
• C. Dispute Settlement Body
• D. Council for Trade in Goods

Q2. As mandated under Article IV of the Marrakesh Agreement, the WTO Ministerial Conference must meet at least once every how many years?

• A. Every year
• B. Every two years
• C. Every three years
• D. Every four years

Q3. With reference to the outcome of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14, Yaoundé), consider the following statements: 1. MC14 concluded without an overall ministerial declaration on its core priorities. 2. MC14 adopted decisions on improving the integration of small economies and on special and differential treatment under the SPS and TBT Agreements. 3. MC14 was the first Ministerial Conference ever to be held on the African continent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. MC14 concluded without an overall ministerial declaration on its core priorities.
2. MC14 adopted decisions on improving the integration of small economies and on special and differential treatment under the SPS and TBT Agreements.
3. MC14 was the first Ministerial Conference ever to be held on the African continent.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Approximately how many trade officials are reported to have attended the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference at Yaoundé?

• A. Nearly 1,000
• B. Nearly 2,000
• C. Nearly 3,500
• D. Nearly 5,000

Q5. At MC14, which one of the following announced the single largest financial pledge in support of the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement?

• A. European Union (through the European Investment Bank)
• B. China (through the International Trade Centre)
• C. United Kingdom (through the World Bank C-JET Fund)
• D. International Trade Centre

Q6. By the conclusion of MC14, how many WTO members had joined as parties to the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement?

• A. 92
• B. 129
• C. 165
• D. 166

Q7. At the WTO, which one of the following did India identify as its foremost agricultural priority requiring a permanent solution before agreeing to new issues?

• A. Public stockholding for food security
• B. Special Safeguard Mechanism
• C. Reduction of cotton subsidies
• D. Tariff rate quota administration

Q8. In India, public stockholding of foodgrains—procurement at minimum support price for the public distribution system—is principally operationalised by which agency?

• A. Food Corporation of India
• B. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED)
• C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
• D. Central Warehousing Corporation

Q9. The WTO is currently functioning under which Director-General, reappointed for a second term commencing 1 September 2025?

• A. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
• B. Roberto Azevêdo
• C. Pascal Lamy
• D. Supachai Panitchpakdi

Q10. In the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the prohibition on subsidies for 'IUU' fishing uses 'IUU' to mean:

• A. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing
• B. Illegal, Unlicensed and Unregistered fishing
• C. Industrial, Unreported and Unregulated fishing
• D. Illegal, Untaxed and Unauthorised fishing

Q11. MC14 at Yaoundé was which numbered WTO Ministerial Conference to be held on the African continent?

• A. The first
• B. The second
• C. The third
• D. The fourth

Q12. With reference to the WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, consider the following statements: 1. Under the moratorium, members agree not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions. 2. The moratorium originated in the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce adopted at the WTO's Second Ministerial Conference in 1998. 3. As consensus could not be reached at MC14, the moratorium lapsed in March 2026. 4. The moratorium permanently bars members from levying internal taxes on digital products. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under the moratorium, members agree not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions.
2. The moratorium originated in the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce adopted at the WTO's Second Ministerial Conference in 1998.
3. As consensus could not be reached at MC14, the moratorium lapsed in March 2026.
4. The moratorium permanently bars members from levying internal taxes on digital products.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4 only