India is taking a tough
stand on non-tariff barriers being imposed on Indian exports by other countries
and would also take similar measures on a reciprocal basis, Commerce Minister
PiyushGoyalsaid .He asked the industry
to share a list of such measures so that India can flag them with the
respective nations.
Many of India's exports
suffer due to such barriers which include cumbersome prior registration
requirements, higher pesticide levels, and unreasonable domestic
standards/rules in many countries.
On non-tariff barriers, "I am going tough on other
countries. I have told them very categorically that if you will impose these
barriers on us, we will put two. This will be reciprocal," he said. "Please inform us about these issues so that our
negotiating position improves. Today we face issues because we do not have data
of their (other countries) non-tariff barriers," he added.
Key Indian exports that
routinely face high barriers include -- Chillies, Tea, Basmati Rice, Milk,
Poultry, Bovine Meat, Fish, Chemicals Products to EU, Sesame Seed, Black Tiger
Shrimps, Medicines, Apparels to Japan, Food, Meat, Fish, Dairy, Industrial
Products to China; Shrimps to the US, and Bovine Meat to South Korea.
The minister was speaking at
the conclusion of the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting here. The board, headed by the minister, has over 130 members. It has
representatives from the Centre, State, Exporters and industry associations.
Goyal also sought
suggestions from the industry on further improving ease of doing business, cutting
down compliance and logistics costs, de-criminalization of minor offences, and
ways to attract investments.
Besides, he asked them to
look into good utilization of free trade agreements (FTAs). He urged the
industry not to seek subsidy support and instead stand on their strengths and
competitiveness. "We should come out from that mindset of subsidies,"
the minister said, adding states are playing a key role in promoting trade and
industry.
The Board of Trade provides a platform to the Centre for
appraising states and UTs about international developments affecting India's
trade and the role of States and UTs in promoting exports. It also remains an important mechanism for
deliberations on trade related issues with industry bodies, associations,
export promotion councils, and state/UT governments.
The meeting focused on
reviewing the export performance to achieve the 2 trillion US dollar export
target by 2030, and the strategies and measures to be adopted in order to take
forward the export growth.
The meeting was attended by
various State Ministers and other senior officials of key line ministries and
States, all major trade and industry bodies, Export Promotion Councils and
industry associations