With India taking a strident position on the issue of food security and not lending immediate support to an agreement on trade facilitation, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) round in Bali for a trade deal seem to be poised precariously. India’s stand at the WTO talks spelled out by Commerce and Industry Minister criticised and expressed disappointment at several issues being addressed in Bali, including the due restraint provision on food security, the agricultural package, the deal for least developed countries (LDC) and the trade facilitation agreement. Addressing the plenary session of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma reiterated that for India, food security is non-negotiable and the need for public stockholding of foodgrains to ensure food security must be respected, and to this end, WTO rules must be updated. Stating that the G-33 proposal was mooted precisely for this purpose, the minister added: “The due restraint provision, in its current form, cannot be accepted. It must remain in force till we are able to agree on a lasting solution and provide adequate protection from all kinds of challenges.” With India taking a tough stance on several crucial issues in this round of talks, the Bali ministerial has received a setback. India will be hoping that other major emerging world countries like Brazil, China and South Africa back its demands on food security. With the Food Security Bill a major plank of the UPA government in the upcoming general elections, any flexibility on the issue was not expected. The developed countries are pushing for a trade facilitation agreement or easier customs rules in the developing countries which is expected to add $ 1 trillion to world trade. Treading cautiously on the eventuality of India being blamed for the collapse of the talks, Sharma Stressing that members have a shared responsibility in preserving the credibility of the WTO as a trade negotiating forum, and that India has remained constructively engaged in the negotiations. India’s stance at the WTO was critical of several shortcomings in the trade negotiations. Sharma expressed disappointment at the agricultural package, mere statements of intent for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and several unresolved issues in the trade facilitation agreement.