Question : SAFEGUARD FOR EXPORTER

(a) whether the trade experts have urged the Government to devise safeguards to resist the pressure of developed countries under WTO:

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government propose to devise proper safeguard measures to restrict market access;

(d) if so, the details thereof; ``*``

(e) whether the Government is under pressure from International Organisations to bring changes in the existing laws on international trade;

(f) if so, whether the Government has succumbed to their pressure and has initiated the proposal to incorporate changes in this regard; and

(g) if not the manner in which the Government intend to overcome this pressure?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)

(a) to (d) Government have put in place a suitable mechanism for monitoring the import of sensitive items and are committed to provide adequate protection to the domestic producers by resorting to various WTO compatible measures which include appropriate calibration of applied tariffs within the bound tariffs, anti-dumping and safeguard actions. In so far as the agriculture sector is concerned, in the ongoing WTO negotiations, India alongwith other like minded developing countries in the G-33 alliance on Special Products (SPsand the new Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) have secured agreement of all WTO Members to devise a new safeguard mechanism against import surges and price depressions in agricultural products for use by developing countries. Further, in the ongoing WTO negotiations under the Doha Work Programme, India has emphasised the need for ensuring that the final outcome of these negotiations fully reflected development dimension mandated at Doha.

(e) No, Sir.

(f) to (g) Does not arise.