(a) the names of the countries with whom trade tariff agreements have been signed by the Government and the extent to which the tariff is likely to be reduced to boost the trade with these countries ;
(b) whether the non-tariff barriers have been identified by the Government as a major hurdle to bilateral trades;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to remove such hurdles; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI KAMAL NATH )
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 189 for answer on 6th December, 2005 regarding `Non Tariff Barriers`
(a) India has signed FTAs or framework agreements for establishing free trade areas . These are with
(i) Sri Lanka;
(ii) SAARC countries;
(iii) Thailand;
(iv) BIMSTEC;
(v) ASEAN and
(vi) GCC.
India has also signed PTAs, i.e., preferential trade agreements with
(i) with MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay);
(ii) GSTP (the Global System of Trade Preferences);
(iii) the Bangkok Agreement and
(iv) Afghanistan.
Further, India has signed a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Singapore. India has two long standing trade treaties with Nepal and Bhutan.
The tariff reductions under these agreements vary from product to product and range from 0 - 100 percent. Under each agreement usually there is a negative list, on which no tariff reduction is offered; and a phased tariff reduction programme where tariffs are reduced over an agreed period of time, as well as a list of products on which tariff reductions come into effect immediately upon entry into force of the agreement.
(b) & (c) Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) are often a hurdle to bilateral trade. The NTBs vary from country to country. The NTBs include customs and administrative requirements, sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures, technical regulations and standards, trade defence measures, imports charges and restrictive practices tolerated by various governments. The problems arising due to non-tariff barriers are duly taken up with the authorities of the countries concerned with a view to their early and mutually satisfactory resolution.