Govt seeks inputs from industry for Japan CEPA
Economic Times | 13 Mar 2008
Govt seeks inputs from industry for Japan CEPA
NEW DELHI : The government has asked the industry to come up with an ‘offensive’ list of items of export interest to India in the Japanese market. The industry input would help the commerce department in identifying areas where it could stress on greater market access in the negotiations for the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Addressing a stakeholder consultation on India-Japan CEPA organised by FICCI and UNCTAD on Tuesday, commerce ministry director Prashant Goyal said that it was vital to be ready with an offensive list as the basic purpose of regional trade agreement (RTA) was to secure tariff reduction in the export destination and get greater market access.
The official said tariffs in Japan are already low. Thus, a crucial determinant in greater market access for Indian products in the Japanese market would be the ability of the commerce ministry to reduce the non-tariff barriers (NTBs). “We are trying to set up a separate NTB forum to deal with non-tariff issues, but the Japanese side is not enthused in discussing general issues,” he said.
