New Delhi, September 25, 2025 – The launch of the much-awaited book WTO and Digital Trade marked a significant academic and policy moment in New Delhi. The event was jointly hosted by the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), Centre for Research in International Trade (CRIT) at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, and the Centre for Studies in International Trade and Investment Laws (CITIL), Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur. The book, published by Bloomsbury India, was unveiled at the Prime Minister’s Museum & Library, Teen Murti House, before a distinguished gathering of jurists, academics, policymakers, and researchers.
The launch was graced by Hon’ble Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Chief Guest, and Hon’ble Justice Rajendra Menon, Chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal, New Delhi, as Guest of Honor. In his inaugural address, Justice Bhuyan spoke about the transformative potential of digital trade while raising important concerns regarding sovereignty, privacy, and fairness in the evolving global order. Justice Menon, in his special address, emphasized the urgency of legal preparedness and the need for innovative frameworks to manage the accelerating pace of digitalization.
The ceremony saw the presence of eminent academic leaders including Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of IIFT; Prof. (Dr.) V. K. Ahuja, Director of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi; Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor of DNLU Jabalpur; and Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey, Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. Their participation underscored the depth of academic collaboration that shaped the making of the volume.
The book WTO and Digital Trade is edited by Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Head of CWS, and Mr. Utkarsh K. Mishra, Director of CITIL, DNLU Jabalpur, under the guidance of Prof. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice Chancellor of DNLU Jabalpur; Prof. Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Senior Fellow at ICRIER; Prof. Dr. Murali Kallummal, Head (Admin)-CRIT; and Mr. Deepak Maheshwari, Senior Policy Advisor. The managing editors of the volume are Dr. Amit Randev, Consultant (Legal), CWS, and Ms. Monika, Consultant (Legal), CWS. Far beyond a ceremonial release, the book launch celebrated scholarship, policy relevance, and institutional collaboration.
In his introduction, Mr. Utkarsh K. Mishra highlighted the book’s focus on e-commerce, data governance, cross-border data flows, taxation, and the global digital divide. He stressed its dual value as an academic resource and a practical policy handbook, particularly for developing countries like India. The evening’s highlight was a panel discussion moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Pritam Banerjee. The panel featured Prof. Abhijit Das, Prof. (Dr.) Murali Kallummal, Prof. (Dr.) James J. Nedumpara, Shri Deepak Maheshwari, and Dr. Gargi Chakrabarti, who deliberated on critical issues including policy space for developing countries, economics of digital platforms, digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, consumer protection, intellectual property, and gender dimensions of digital trade. Their insights, coupled with interactive audience engagement, made the session a vibrant exchange of ideas.
The event also witnessed enthusiastic participation from researchers of CITIL. Among them were Mr. Suryansh Pandey and Ms. Aditi Mishra, Convenors of CITIL; Mr. Saurav Tiwari, Head of Centre Publications; and Mr. Abhay Gupta, Head of the Trade-cum-Incubation Centre. Both Mr. Tiwari and Mr. Gupta also contributed as Assistant Editors of the book, reflecting the deep involvement of young scholars in the project.
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Amit Randev, who acknowledged the contributions of all collaborators and participants. The seamless organization of the program was ensured by Ms. Monika and Dr. Randev, whose efforts guaranteed the smooth flow of proceedings. A fellowship dinner followed, reinforcing the spirit of academic partnership and policy dialogue.
Key themes addressed in WTO and Digital Trade include defining digital trade under WTO frameworks, balancing data flows and privacy concerns, e-commerce negotiations, taxation in the digital economy, the global digital divide, and the interplay between domestic and international policies. As a scholarly and policy-driven contribution, the volume underscores the role of WTO in governing the digital economy while paying special attention to the challenges faced by developing nations.
The successful launch reaffirmed India’s position as an intellectual leader in global trade debates. It also highlighted the commitment of CWS, IIFT New Delhi, and DNLU Jabalpur to advancing rigorous research, thought leadership, and international collaboration in the fast-evolving field of digital trade and multilateral governance.