India: WTO Rules Against India's Sugar Export Subsidies and Domestic Price Support

On December 14, 2021, the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its findings from the dispute panel initiated in August 2019 against India’s trade distorting sugar subsidies. The WTO report found that India’s subsidies violated its obligations under the multilateral agreement. The Indian government has discontinued its export subsidies under the Maximum Admissible Export Quota (MAEQ) program for the current sugar season (October-September). However, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the ruling will have no impact on India’s existing domestic sugar sector policies and will appeal the decision.