Non-tariff barriers: India toughens stance, to impose curbs on reciprocal basis
NEW DELHI : 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 and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. 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.
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