Question : Quantitative Restrictions on Import of Pulses

(a) whether India’s Quantitative Restrictions (QRs) of 100,000 tonnes of peas initially imposed for a period of three months till June 30, 2018 had been extended twice, first till September 30 , 2018 and subsequently till December 31, 2018 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether India is facing increased heat at WTO for continuing with its QRs on import of certain pulses to check falling prices in the domestic market and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of action taken by the Government to counter such objections at the WTO; and
(d) whether such objections are likely to scuttle Government initiatives to support domestic production and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) Import policy of Peas (including Yellow peas, Green peas, Dun peas and Kaspa peas) was revised from ‘free to ‘restricted’ initially for a period of three months with effect from 01.04.2018 till 30.06.2018 vide Notification No 04/2015-2020 dated 25.04.2018 with a quota of one lakh MT. Restriction was extended for a further period of three months, i.e., till 30.09.2018 vide Notification No 15/2015-2020 dated 02.07.2018. Again it was extended till 31.03.2019 vide Notification no S.O. 6364(E) dated 28.12.2018. These are all available in public domain in DGFT’s website: dgft.gov.in.

(b) to (d) Several WTO Members questioned India at the WTO Committee on Agriculture as well as in the bilateral meetings on the basis on which India imposed QRs and its consistency with WTO rules. India has stated that the imposition of QR was a temporary measure undertaken to protect the small and marginal farmers from adverse impact of drop in prices. Thereafter, such measures are reviewed on a regular basis initiatives are taken to support domestic producers.
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