"MFN Principle Facing Erosion”: Prof James Nedumpara at HNLU International Colloquium on WTO@30

Prof. Nedumpara, Head of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), IIFT, delivered the keynote address and reflected on emerging challenges in global trade governance. He highlighted the shifting contours of multilateralism and the pressures confronting the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.

Inaugurating the Colloquium, Prof. (Dr.) V. C. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor of HNLU, reviewed three decades of WTO evolution, observing that the organisation's deliverables have not always matched its structural objectives. He noted that India has moved from a position of caution to playing a central role in WTO discourse.

The event was organised by HNLU's Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology, in collaboration with the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), IIFT, under the WTO Chairs Programme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

The Colloquium featured distinguished speakers including Ms. Ameeta Verma Duggal, Founding Partner, DGS Associates, and Ms. Aarushi Shrivastav, Young Trade Leader (India), WTO and Industrial Policy Analyst at Global Counsel.

Ms. Shrivastav emphasised the importance of early engagement with international trade institutions and policy processes, while Ms. Duggal underscored the continued institutional relevance and durability of the WTO.

An interactive session with Ms. Shrivastav provided insights into the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and emerging career opportunities in international trade, diplomacy, and policy advisory.

The programme also included a panel discussion titled “Global Trade Careers, the WTO's Institutional Evolution & Beyond,” featuring Dr. Ankit Awasthi (Head, Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, HNLU), Ms. Shrivastav, and Ms. Aditi Warrier (Principal Associate, DGS Associates). The panel addressed institutional evolution of the WTO and professional pathways in international trade law practice.

During the event, the results of the 2nd Kautilya Society HNLU Article Writing Competition, 2025 were announced. The book Trade, Business & Sustainability was formally released, along with the brochure for the 1st International Trade Law Summit titled “The WTO@30: Reimagining Multilateralism in International Trade Law,” scheduled for 2–4 October 2026. The International Network for Trade Advocacy, Development and Research (IN-TADR) was also launched.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Registrar (I/c), delivered the welcome address. The event was coordinated by Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Dr. Mayank Srivastava, Ms. Urvi Shrivastava, and Dr. Ankit Singh, with student coordinators Kruthika Senthil Kumar and Sanjana Ramnath.