(a) whether the Government are considering to bring a Bill before the Parliament on WTO agreements keeping in view the adverse impact of said agreements on Indian farmers, manufacturers and also on traders/ exporters;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to make the Indian farmers and traders competitive in the global market?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a) to (c) : The Government is considering to amend the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 to enable the Government to impose such quantitative restrictions on imports as are in accordance with the Agreement on Safeguards of WTO. The Agreement on Safeguard enables member countries to impose quantitative restrictions by way of emergency action, if imports of such articles are in such increased quantities as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competitive articles, with a more liberal dispensation for such imports from the developing countries.
(d) : The Government is aware of the emerging scenario for the domestic producers including farmers. The policy of economic liberalisation being followed aims at increasing the competitiveness of the domestic producers. Besides, the Government is also taking necessary action to provide adequate protection to domestic producers against unfair imports.