a) whether India and China have set up a Joint Panel to sort out trade related issues and if so, the details thereof along with the composition of this Joint Panel;
b) whether this Panel has discussed the trade related issues and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which they are likely to be sorted out; and
c) the other steps taken by the Indian Government to improve market access for Indian products to China?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. India and China have not set up any Joint Panel to sort out trade related issues, but have, however, established a Joint Economic Group on Economic Relations and Trade, Science and Technology (JEG) in 1988. The JEG is a ministerial-level dialogue mechanism to address issues on bilateral trade and economic co-operation between the two countries. The JEG has met ten times so far and the last meeting of the JEG (10th JEG ) was held on 2nd September 2014, in Beijing. The following trade related issues were discussed during the 10th JEG meeting: Trade imbalance, Market Access of Indian Agricultural products such as Oil Meals & Cake, Tobacco, Rice, Fruits & Vegetables etc.; Deepening Bilateral Trade Cooperation in Sectors like Textiles, Handmade Carpets, Diamonds, Oil Seeds & Sesame Seeds, Casein; Issues relating to export of Pharma products, Cooperation and Market Access in Information Technology (IT) & Information Technology Enabled Services ( ITES), Import of Indian Films etc. India has been using all platforms for engagements with China to improve market access for Indian products in China.
(c): India and China have also jointly developed and signed in September 2014, the Five-Year Development Program for Economic and Trade Cooperation in order to lay down a medium term roadmap for promoting balanced and sustainable development of economic and trade relations between two countries, on the principle of equality and mutual benefit.
During the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister to China in May 2015, both sides agreed to take joint measures to alleviate the skewed bilateral trade so as to realize its sustainability. Such measures include cooperation on pharmaceutical supervision including registration, speedier phytosanitary negotiations on agro-products for two-way trade, stronger links between Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises, and increasing services trade in tourism, films, healthcare, IT and logistics.
*****