Protecting the half-billion: Domestic and international determinants of IndiaÂ’s agricultural trade policy at the WTO negotiations.

Although economists have argued that India has a comparative advantage in several farm products, IndiaÂ’s position in the WTO negotiations in agriculture has been primarily defensive. This paper explains IndiaÂ’s defensive posture by tracing it to a new consultative mechanism for decision-making on WTO issues that explicitly recognizes the role of the agriculture ministry in agenda-setting. IndiaÂ’s definition of its core interests and its ability to maintain its defensive position have also been shaped by the multilateral trade regime itself and by the changing coalitions within it. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]