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Ministry seeks details on NTBs from EPCs

Our Bureau

KOLKATA, Jan. 4

THE Commerce Ministry, in a recent communication to export promotion councils (EPCs), has sought comments on trade policies and practices of countries against whom exporters may be facing non-tariff trade barriers, particularly market access problems.

Member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are subjected to periodical reviews of their trade policies and practices under the Trade Policy Review (TPR) mechanism of WTO.

Trade policy reviews of two of India's major trading partners, the US and Malaysia, are scheduled to be held in September and December 2001 respectively, in Geneva, and accordingly, EPCs have been asked by the Government to provide the necessary inputs f or a meaningful participation at such TPR meetings.

According to Ministry sources, the purpose of such TPRs was to ensure improved adherence of all members to the rules, disciplines and commitments made under the various WTO agreements. The frequency of the review meetings, it is pointed out, would depend on the share of the member country in world trade. India, with a share in global trade of 0.6 per cent, is subject to a four-year trade cycle.

Trade experts aver that the TPR mechanism provided an excellent opportunity to raise concerns regarding trade barriers faced by exporters in member countries of the WTO. Active participation in trade review meetings of other countries, like the US, with whom India has substantial trade relations, is encouraged, especially to improve market access.

India had recorded active participation in the TPR meeting held in December last year on Canada, an important player in international trade, and against which there have been market access problems.

Canada, which has been active in the on-going negotiations on agricultural products and services, seeks on the one hand improved market access, export subsidy elimination and ``reduced trade-distorting domestic support'', and on the other wishes to prese rve its right to operate ``orderly marketing systems'' in the wheat, dairy, poultry and egg sectors.

While restrictions remain in areas such as financial services, transportation, telecommunications and ``cultural sectors'', overall, Canada's market access in services is said to be relatively liberal.