NTBs to dominate next SAARC commerce ministers' meet
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Syed Ishtiaque Reza
Bangladesh and other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are expected to request India to address their concern over non-trade barriers in the upcoming meeting of SAARC commerce ministers in New Delhi next month.
"We are expecting substantial gesture from India in addressing the issue of non-tariff barriers," said a commerce ministry official.
The SAFTA Committee of Experts will address the issues on March 01 and 02 while the commerce ministers will meet on March 03 to discuss plans for expanding trade and investment among the SAARC members.
The meeting will review the regional and economic co-operation, free trade, economic policy reforms, promotion of tourism, co-operation in energy sectors etc.
Bangladesh side will be headed by commerce adviser Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman.
The Committee of Experts held several meetings in recent months to identify the areas of cooperation as well as irritants to the promotion of trade cooperation.
It is alleged that India while reducing tariffs is sticking to non-tariff barriers which are considered the main obstacle to greater trade cooperation in South Asia. India has trade surplus with most countries in the region.
India has brought down import duty to zero on 4,536 tariff lines for least developed countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan in the South Asian region from January this year.
Bangladesh and other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are expected to request India to address their concern over non-trade barriers in the upcoming meeting of SAARC commerce ministers in New Delhi next month.
"We are expecting substantial gesture from India in addressing the issue of non-tariff barriers," said a commerce ministry official.
The SAFTA Committee of Experts will address the issues on March 01 and 02 while the commerce ministers will meet on March 03 to discuss plans for expanding trade and investment among the SAARC members.
The meeting will review the regional and economic co-operation, free trade, economic policy reforms, promotion of tourism, co-operation in energy sectors etc.
Bangladesh side will be headed by commerce adviser Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman.
The Committee of Experts held several meetings in recent months to identify the areas of cooperation as well as irritants to the promotion of trade cooperation.
It is alleged that India while reducing tariffs is sticking to non-tariff barriers which are considered the main obstacle to greater trade cooperation in South Asia. India has trade surplus with most countries in the region.
India has brought down import duty to zero on 4,536 tariff lines for least developed countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan in the South Asian region from January this year.