Question : RESTRICTION ON INDIAN EXPORTS BY U.S. AND OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

(a) whether USA has detained some Indian products using complex technical specifications as a non-tariff barrier to imports;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the USA and other developed countries have been persisting on imposition of social and technical import constraints in respect of products exported from India through World Trade Organisation despite failure of Seattle talks; and

(e) if so, the steps and strategy has been adopted by the Indian Government to counter such restrictions imposed by developed countries against export from India?

MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN)

(a) to (c) Government of India have not come across any case of detention of Indian products in USA on the basis of complex technical specifications.

(d) USA and other developed countries are in favour of linkage between certain non-trade issues such as social and environmental issues with international trade issues.

(e) India (along with other like-minded developing countries) is opposing the linkage of trade with social issues, on the ground that such issues are unrelated to trade. We have also been pressing at the WTO for ensuring our participation in the development of standards by international standard setting bodies, so that standards adopted fully take into account the problems and constraints that developing countries face.