Question : TRADE BALANCE WITH CHINA

(a) whether there is any trade dispute between India and China relating to three key sector viz. Pharmaceutical, agriculture including bovine meat and IT services and the Government has raised the matter with China in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to introduce standard for variety of products and subsequently impose restrictions on imports of non-essential items including pharmaceuticals, from China which do not conform to the Indian quality norms;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the items/products proposed to be listed in this category;

(d) the reaction/response of the Chinese Government in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure quality and standards of the imported items and to maintain balance of trade with China in particular and other countries in general?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

a) to e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 618FOR ANSWER ON 8TH MAY 2015 REGARDING “TRADE BALANCE WITH CHINA”

(a): India has consistently sought greater market access for India’s exports to China, especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture including bovine meat, IT services, etc. India has also sought simplification and greater transparency in China’s procedures relating to registration, inspection and approvals relating to imports from India.

(b) to (d): All goods imported into India are subject to domestic laws, rules, orders, regulations, technical specifications, environment and safety norms, that are notified from time to time. There is no proposal at present to restrict imports of products, that otherwise satisfy the aforesaid conditions, including meeting the prescribed technical standards.

(e): Government has brought 92 products under compulsory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification, by issuing quality control orders under Section 14 of the BIS Act, 1986.The use of BIS Standard Mark has been made mandatory on such products, whether manufactured in the country or imported. Further, 15 electronic and IT products are covered under Compulsory Registration Scheme of BIS, where the use of Self Declaration of Conformity statement on these products is mandatory. 15 additional products have been brought under this schemew.e.f. 7th May, 2015.

In order to boost exports and to maintain balance of trade with India’s trade partners including China, Government has taken a number of measures which, inter-alia, include market study initiatives to identify specific product lines with export potential, actively taking up issues relating to tariff and non-tariff barriers in bilateral meetings and institutional dialogues, measures to support exports through various incentive measures and product and market specific incentive schemes etc.