India and Chinese Taipei have jointly requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) to defer the adoption of a panel ruling related to import duties on specific information and communications technology (ICT) products until October 24, 2025. The move signals both parties' intent to resolve the matter through bilateral discussions before any formal decision is implemented.

The request was made ahead of a meeting of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), which is scheduled to take place on June 25 in Geneva. The DSB has agreed to the request, marking the latest in a series of deferrals regarding the adoption of the dispute panel’s report.

The case in question centers on India's imposition of customs duties on certain ICT products, which has been challenged by multiple WTO members, including Chinese Taipei. The WTO panel, in a report issued on April 17, 2023, concluded that the duties imposed by India are inconsistent with global trade norms and obligations under WTO agreements. However, India has maintained that it is not bound by the provisions cited, as it is not a signatory to the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA-2), which covers the products in dispute. India is a participant in the original Information Technology Agreement (ITA-1) signed in 1997, which includes a different set of commitments and does not encompass the full range of ICT goods listed in ITA-2.

The products involved in the dispute include a wide array of electronic goods such as cellular phones, machines used for data transmission, and components for communication devices. The imposition of duties on these items has raised concerns among trading partners about market access and compliance with WTO tariff commitments.

According to WTO procedures, rulings issued by dispute panels must be adopted within 60 days unless all parties involved in the case agree to delay implementation. India and Chinese Taipei have previously submitted similar requests, and this latest extension marks the seventh such instance of a mutually agreed postponement.

The WTO encourages its members to engage in bilateral consultations as a primary means of dispute resolution before escalating matters to formal adjudication. The current deferral reflects a continuing effort by both sides to reach a mutually acceptable solution without resorting to enforcement mechanisms.

Notably, the situation is further complicated by the non-functioning of the WTO’s appellate body, which has been inactive due to unresolved differences among member states regarding the appointment of new judges. This has left several trade disputes, including appeals, in procedural limbo.