Page 4 - Trade Policy

Non-tariff barriers: Centre readies steps to ease exporters' woes

Sets up panel, identifies challenges, to launch portal soon

Brics to look at expansion as Russia proposes to add 10 partner countries

Russia has made "developing modalities for interaction with Brics partner countries" one of its key priorities for the Kazan Summit

India eyes multiple mineral pacts with about a dozen countries in Africa

Private players will be invited to take part in exploration, trade within those countries

WTO pares down projected merchandise trade volume growth to 2.6% for FY24

India's merchandise exports in value terms are expected to contract by 1-1.5 per cent in 2023-24 after two consecutive years of growth

US names Brendan Lynch as assistant USTR for South and Central Asia

For the past 11 years, Lynch has been a member of the USTR team, serving in several capacities related to the South and Central Asia region

India limits market access in financial services to EFTA countries

The FTA text says the opening of branches by foreign banks in branch or wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) mode shall also be subject to the requirements

India's trade pacts with EFTA positive signal of economic integration: GTRI

Successful conclusion of India's proposed trade agreements with the UK, Oman and four European nation bloc EFTA will reflect its commitment to trade liberalisation and economic integration at a time when the whole world is turning protectionist, according to a report. Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said the free trade agreements (FTAs) have become pivotal instruments for India's economic expansion and integration into the world market. These nations and the bloc are eager to finalize these agreements before the upcoming general elections, GTRI said, adding the talks are on the verge of conclusion. Signing of these three agreements will take India's FTA tally from 13 to 16. Number of countries with comprehensive FTAs will go up from 22 to 28. In addition India has six small scope PTAs (preferential trade agreements). Last pact was signed with Australia in March 2022. "Everyone wants to do an FTA with India. The main reason for this is India's high impo

Rajasthan's trade bodies flag increasing production cost concerns

Industries, including firms in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, are finding it difficult to survive the competition due to higher costs compared to neighbouring states

Progress of India-UK trade pact talks reviewed at highest level: Report

With the negotiations for the proposed India-UK free trade agreement reaching an advanced stage, the Prime Minister's Office reviewed the progress of the talks on February 16, sources said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal were also present in the meeting, they said. "The talks for the agreement are at a crucial stage now. About three reviews have happened so far at the highest level," they said, adding both countries are working to iron out differences on the remaining issues. The commerce secretary recently stated that the negotiations were taking time because "we want" to safeguard India's interest. "India should commercially gain out of it and we should also be able to safeguard the interest of our farmers, PLI (production linked incentive) scheme goods. So, we are there to see that the deal is a fair deal," he said. So far 13 rounds of talks have been completed and the 14th round started on January 10. Some of the key issues .

India to seek greater market access for mangoes in TPF meet with US on Fri

India will raise a number of issues with the US such as inking social security pact, and greater market access for mangoes in America during the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meet here on Friday, an official said. The official said India will also raise issues pertaining to delay in visa; increasing exports of table grapes, pharma goods, and marine products like wild caught fish and shrimp; reinstating the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status to India; and export control regulations for high-tech products and technologies. The 14th TPF meet will be co-chaired by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal here. Social security, or totalisation agreement, is a long-pending demand of the country, as it will provide social security to Indian professionals in America. This would eliminate dual social security deduction, both in the home country and in the nation where an employee works. Under this, an expatriate in either country need not

Rodtep, personal computer imports on table at India-US trade policy forum

Trade policy meet may also take up issues like GSP, non-tariff barriers

India-US forum to discuss import monitoring system for laptops, PCs

The US has sought clarification once again even as India cited national security concerns as a rationale behind its August 2023 decision

India-Russia trade exceeds $50 bn: EAM highlights progress in key sectors

During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal greetings to President Putin

Global trade policy: A year-end stocktaking

Even as East Asian regionalism gives some hope, 2023 ends with growing apprehensions

India' reliance on Bab-el-Mandeb Strait could impact economy: GTRI

India needs to work on finding alternate trade routes in the sea as heavy reliance on the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a key route crossing Red Sea, could impact the country's trade with the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, economic think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. Developing alternative routes such as the deep water port in Chabahar, Iran can help the country, it said. The situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants. The strait, vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic, has seen increased tensions with various incidents in 2023, including attacks and military manoeuvre by regional and global powers, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. It added that India, heavily reliant on this route for trade and energy (crude oil and LNG) imports, faces increased costs and security risks, prompting efforts to diversify trade routes and

India-US Trade Policy Forum meeting likely to be held next month

The TPF is the premier bilateral forum for discussion and resolution of trade and investment issues between the US and India

India, Peru to hold trade talks on furthering investments from Oct 10: Govt

The next round of negotiations for a trade agreement between India and South American nation Peru will start from October 10, an official statement said on Monday. The agreement is aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investments between the two countries. With the pact, the two trading partners will significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. "A special round of negotiations for the India - Peru trade agreement is scheduled to be held virtually on 10-11 October," the commerce ministry said. During the negotiations, the two sides will discuss different issues, including rules of origin, trade in goods, customs procedures and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures. "Discussions on services, movement of natural persons (professionals), trade remedies and investment chapter will be held later in the month based on mutual convenience of the negotiators," the statement said. Negotiation

Deepak Anurag sworn in as member of Competition Commission of India

Deepak Anurag, retired additional deputy comptroller and auditor general of India, was sworn in as member of fair trade regulator Competition Commission on Monday. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) now has four members, including Chairperson Ravneet Kaur. Anurag was sworn in as member on Monday, according to a post by CCI on social media platform X. According to his LinkedIn profile, Anurag is a retired additional deputy comptroller and auditor general of India, at the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. CCI also shared pictures of the member being sworn in on Monday. Last month, lawyer Sweta Kakkad and retired police officer Anil Kumar Agrawal were sworn in as members of the CCI. Kaur took charge as the Chairperson in May. The fair trade regulator is pursuing various cases, including those related to digital space, as well as dealing with all complaints related to GST profiteering.

Sebi slaps Rs 55 lakh penalty on 11 entities for non-genuine trades

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Thursday slapped penalties totalling Rs 55 lakh on 11 entities for indulging in non-genuine trades in illiquid stock options segment on the BSE. In 11 separate orders, the regulator slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on Sanjay Kumar Agarwal HUF, Manoj Agrawal, Kanta Didwania, Harish Chandra Baldewa, Daksha Kirit Patel, Bestway Dealcom, Ziya Merchandise, S K Agarwal, and Sons HUF, Sumit Agarwal, Spectrum Technoprojects Pvt Ltd, and Sanjeev Mittal HUF. The orders came after the regulator observed large-scale reversal trades in the illiquid stock options segment on the BSE, leading to artificial volumes on the exchange. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted an investigation into trading activities of certain entities engaged in the segment from April 2014 to September 2015. The entities to be fined were among those who indulged in reversal trades. Reversal trades are non-genuine as they are executed in the normal course of trading

At WTO, growing disregard for trade rules shows world is fragmenting

Those depositing cases include China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea and the United States