Special and Differential Treatment in the WTO : Current Anxieties

Recently, the United States President has threatened to take unilateral trade retaliation, if India continues to avail “special and differential treatment” in the WTO regime. The threat alone has the potential to inhibit the exercise of policy options by India and other developing countries to pursue development objectives. This article highlights the legality of such threat, the significance of “special and differential treatment,” non-fulfilment of commitments made by developed countries during Uruguay round negotiations and current WTO-Appellate Body impasse