New Delhi: India is likely to float a proposal aimed at reforming the dispute settlement mechanism, rule-making and transparency requirements at the World Trade Organization WTO ) on Friday. The proposal will be floated at the informal ministerial gathering at the ongoing World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.India’s reform paper comes in the wake of the US blocking the appointment of judges at the global trade watchdog for more than two years, accusing emerging economies including India and China of eating into the development rights of poorer nations, and insisting on penalising countries if they introduce or increase subsidies for domestic industry without reporting to the organisation.“Our paper focusses on three issues—rulemaking, transparency and dispute settlement.We have said that the appellate body issue needs to be resolved first because that is central. Without that, WTO is no organisation,” said an official in the know of the details.“If we can’t enforce WTO’s rules, then it is as good as a discussion body. First and foremost, start reappointing judges and then we will discuss other issues, but nothing should be done unilaterally,” the official said.On the issue of notifications and transparency, the official said India is opposed to the idea of linking notification requirements with punitive action. India and 40 other members had opposed the US’ proposal in November that seeks to prohibit defaulters from presiding over WTO bodies and allows other countries to not answer questions posed by them. “Notification is for transparency purpose and the violation of any such requirement may not amount to violation of some agreement,” the official added.Duty hike by the US on certain steel and aluminium products has triggered a trade war kind of situation.The rich nations are forming groupings to prepare ground for pushing new issues such as investment facilitation, preparing rules for e-commerce, promoting gender equality and reducing subsidy on fisheries.India has been keenly pushing agricultural issues at the WTO.The talks at the WTO's 11th ministerial conference collapsed after the US went back on its commitment to find a permanent solution to the public food stockholding issue, a key matter for India.India's move assumes significance in the backdrop of growing protectionism in the global trade, hurting the confidence of the WTO.Certain members want to further strengthen the 164-member body to make it more effective.WTO chief Roberto Azevedo had said the US has some concerns on the way the global trade body functions.The US has stated that the world has changed since the formation of the WTO in 1995 and wants some upgrade and reforms in the Geneva-based body.Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu had earlier stated that India would prepare an agenda for the meeting in consultation with developed as well as developing countries.