8-Jan-2008
Economic Times
India will push for the removal of stringent quality norms for export to the European Union in the bilateral trade and investment agreement that is being worked out now. Restrictions on supplying ayurvedic medicines to the EU countries, extremely low maximum residue limit on products such as spices and registration problems faced by poultry and egg suppliers are high on India’s agenda.
1-Jan-2008
Economic Times
Unlike India, most Asean countries have a very robust regime of quality and safety standards for products imported into their markets. What that means under an India-ASEAN FTA is that Indian manufacturers, despite having lower entry tariffs into Asean, will still not be able to export their products unless they meet the strict safety and quality regulations of those countries.
29-Dec-2007
Economic Times
The Foreign Exchange Management Act has been amended allowing Bangladeshi companies to invest in India. These changes will clear the way for India-Bangladesh bilateral investment promotion agreement.
17-Dec-2007
Economic Times
The Indian government may take a cautious approach while negotiating free trade agreements with countries such as China that do not have a market-driven exchange rate policy.
16-Dec-2007
Times of India
India and Hong Kong have initiated talks on a free trade agreement to promote bilateral trade and investment.
11-Dec-2007
Business Standard
The reduction in customs duty of crude palm oil (CPO) by India has severely hit the 12 vanaspati units set up by Indian companies in Sri Lanka to take advantage of the low duty on CPO there and export duty-free to India under the free trade agreement quota.
6-Dec-2007
Economic Times
Responding to the increasing political resistance to trade liberalisation, India’s commerce & industry ministry is planning to set up a special mechanism to monitor the impact of free trade agreements.
6-Dec-2007
Times of India
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with China but a decision will be based on sensitivities of domestic industry. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh categorically stated that agriculture will not be included in FTAs.