Trade and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stressed the need for a permanent, adequate and fair solution to public storage programs for food security purposes at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and pleaded for a rapid outcome of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. (TRIPS) proposal for exemption from the agreement for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

At the BRICS trade ministers’ meeting on Friday, he also insisted on finding solutions to the challenges of data protection and cybersecurity, even as the meeting saw new areas of cooperation gain ground such as as trade in professional services, genetic resources and consumer protection. protection in electronic commerce, the government said in a statement.

The BRICS include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

India and South Africa submitted the first proposal last year, suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement relating to prevention, containment or treatment of Covid-19. In May of this year, they submitted a revised proposal which was submitted by 62 members.

Goyal said the BRICS countries should work together to strengthen the WTO and aim for a balanced and inclusive outcome at the next WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) later this year, keeping in mind the needs of development of developing countries and LDCs.

He also stressed the need for a permanent, adequate and equitable solution to public storage programs for food security purposes. India would seek a solution to the problem at the ministerial meeting.

According to an official statement, Goyal emphasized the principles of special and differential treatment for developing countries and “common but differentiated responsibility” between developed and developing countries.

“The meeting of trade ministers saw new areas of cooperation gain ground, such as trade in professional services, genetic resources and consumer protection in electronic commerce,” the ministry said.

The BRICS countries have approved the Professional Services Trade Cooperation Framework with the aim of strengthening national capacities and global competitiveness, promoting participation in intra-BRICS mobility of professionals and improving trade in professional services.

All BRICS members could for the first time reach consensus to work together to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge, the ministry said.