Indian government vetoes Brazil's victory in WTO sugar trade dispute

On Tuesday, the 25th, the government of India blocked the approval of a decision at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that recognized Brazil's victory in a dispute involving the sugar trade. The Itamaraty had appealed to the entity, claiming that the multimillion-dollar subsidies given by the Indians to their producers were distorting the global market. WTO arbitrators judged that Brazil was right and that, therefore, India needed to reform its agricultural policies. But the Indian government's decision was to appeal and ask the WTO's appellate body to reassess the case. Although this is a correct procedure in normal times, the Indian gesture left Brazilians and diplomats from other countries indignant due to the inexistence, at this moment, of the appellate body. The highest court of commerce ceased to function two years ago, after the US government began to veto the appointment of judges. The result was its paralysis and, at the moment, there is no prospect of resuming work, ...