Deployment Of Nuclear Missiles By China

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1757

ANSWERED ON-08.12.2011

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that China is posing a threat to India’s security by deploying nuclear missiles close to Sino-India border;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps/measures taken/being taken by Government to build strong logistics on the frontier?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (c) Government pays close attention to China’s military modernization programme as well as its infrastructure development projects in the border regions opposite India in the Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions. Since 1993, the two Governments have maintained peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas. The two sides have reiterated their commitment to this goal on many occasions. Government is giving careful and special attention to the development of the border areas opposite China, in order to meet our strategic and security requirements and also to facilitate the economic development of these areas. Government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it.

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Increase in Trade Dificit With China

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

RAJYA SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO-203

ANSWERED ON-07.12.2011

a) whether it is fact that trade deficit with China has increased during the last three years;
b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
c) what are the measures before Government for correcting this imbalance?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI ANAND SHARMA)


a) to c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 203 FOR ANSWER ON 7TH DECEMBER 2011 REGARDING “INCREASE IN TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA”

(a)    The trade deficit with China has risen with a dip in the year 2009-10. During the year 2008-09 the trade deficit was US$ 23,144 million. But in the year 2009-10 the trade deficit came down to US$ 19,207 million. The trade deficit during the year 2010-11 was US$ 23,864 million.

(b)    The details of exports to and imports from China during the last three years are given below: -

Bilateral Trade Statistics

(Values in US$ millions)

Year	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Exports to China	9,353	11,617	19,615
Imports from China	32,497	30,824	43,479
Trade Deficit	23,144	19,207	23,864

 (Source: DGCI&S)

 Chinese export to India relies strongly on manufactured items meeting the demand of fast expanding sectors like telecom and power in India. Chinese companies supply relevant equipments at most competitive prices. India’s exports are characterized by primary products, raw material and intermediate products. Further there are non-tariff barriers on imports of agricultural products in China as well as limited market access of Indian products.

 (c)    The Government of India has addressed the issue of growing trade deficit at the highest level. At the Ministerial level, we have India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology (JEG) where trade related issues are taken up regularly. The Eighth Session of India-China JEG was held on 19th January, 2010 in Beijing. As an outcome of 8th JEG a Memorandum of Understanding on extension of Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed. The MoU recognises that a balanced trade is conducive to long term, sustainable and harmonious development of economic cooperation between the two countries. Indian exporters are encouraged to participate in major trade fairs in China to show-case Indian products in the Chinese market and increase engagement with Chinese companies. Participation of Indian exporters in trade fairs aims to promote Indian products amongst Chinese importers.  With a view to reducing trade deficit, efforts are also being made to diversify the trade basket with emphasis on manufactured goods. We are also pursuing market access issues to tackle non-tariff barriers in the Chinese market at different fora. Business to Business relations are encouraged through schemes such as Market Access Initiative (MAI)/Market Development Assistance (MDA). Apart from these measures the Government of India is alive to the challenges of import surges and various unfair trade practices through available safeguard measures under WTO.


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Productivity Of Pulses

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE 

UNSTARRED 

QUESTION NO . 1729 

ANSWERED ON 11.03.2011

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE be pleased to state :-


(a) whether productivity of pulses in the country is at par with that in advanced countries including China;

(b) if not, the productivity compared to that of major countries and the average world productivity; and

(c) the steps proposed to be taken to improve the productivity of pulses in the country?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI ARUN YADAV)

(a) & (b): As per the FAO Statistics 2009, the productivity of pulses in India is lesser than the advanced countries including China. The productivity of pulses in the country vis-à-vis major pulses growing countries during 2007 was as under:
Sl.No Country Productivity

(Kg/ha)

1. Australia 877

2. Brazil 833

3. Canada 1782

4. China 1310

5. Ethiopia 1146 6. India 610

7 Myanmar 981

8. USA 1902 

World 775 Source: FAO statistics, 2009

(c): Government of India has been implementing National Food Security Mission-pulses in 16 major pulses producing states in the country to enhance the production and productivity of pulses in the country.
Besides, Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) was also launched from Kharif, 2010 as a part of NFSM-Pulses for demonstration of Production and Protection Technologies as Village Level Compact Blocks for enhanced production and productivity of pulses as well as motivating farmers for increased investment in promoting pulses production. Assistance is also being provided to the farmers under other crop development programmes such as Integrated development of 60,000 villages of Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) & “Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India” (BGEI) for enhancing agricultural production including that of pulses. 

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Effect Of FTAs With Neighboring Countries

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?

ANSWER

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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