MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
STARRED
QUESTION NO . 30
ANSWERED ON 10.11.2010
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state :-
(a) the details of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) entered into with the neighbouring countries and the impact of such agreements on domestic industry;
(b) whether Government has kept any provision for protecting and promoting the domestic industry in FTAs;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the mechanism of reviewing FTAs from time to time with the intention of ensuring protection of domestic industry?
(b) whether Government has kept any provision for protecting and promoting the domestic industry in FTAs;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the mechanism of reviewing FTAs from time to time with the intention of ensuring protection of domestic industry?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI ANAND SHARMA)
a) to d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI ANAND SHARMA)
a) to d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
S. No
|
Name of Agreement
|
Partner Country(s)
|
1
|
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)
|
Bangladesh, China, Lao PDR, South Korea, Sri Lanka
|
2
|
Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP)
|
44 developing countries/least developed countries
|
3
|
India-Sri Lanka FTA
|
Sri Lanka
|
4
|
India-Afghanistan PTA
|
Afghanistan
|
5
|
India-Thailand Early Harvest Scheme
|
Thailand
|
6
|
South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)
|
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
|
7
|
India-MERCOSUR PTA
|
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
|
8
|
India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
|
Singapore
|
9
|
India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement
|
Chile
|
10
|
Indi India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade Commerce and Transit
|
Bhutan
|
11
|
India-Nepal Treaty of Trade
|
N
|
12
|
India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
|
South Korea
|
13
|
India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement
|
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
|
(b) and (c) Yes. Before deciding on entering into an FTA with any country, a feasibility study is conducted by a Joint Study Group (JSG) comprising of officials from both sides. The JSG examines inter-alia, trade and tariff profiles, issues of complementarities, likely benefits and areas of mutual interests. A considered view on whether to go ahead to an FTA is taken by the Government based on the report of the JSG.
Before commencement of negotiations, extensive studies are undertaken by the Department of Commerce through various academic institutions. Negotiations are done after detailed consultations with industry stakeholders as well as the administrative Ministries and Departments to protect as well as to promote the interests of the Indian industry and agriculture. Representatives from these Ministries and Departments also participate in the negotiations. Protection is provided by way of keeping sensitive items in a negative list on which no tariff concessions are given.
In addition to these measures, all the FTAs have provision for initiating safeguard action. Safeguard measures can be invoked if there is a sudden surge of imports of a particular item from the FTA partner which causes injury to domestic industry. This is done by suspending or withdrawing the tariff concession on that item so that the effect of the preferential treatment is nullified.
(d) All the FTAs have provision for review after specific periods. During the review process negotiations are held to improve market access as well as to address concerns that may arise in the implementation of the agreement.
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