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World Trade Organisation (WTO), Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Foreign Trade Division has been working in the area of international trade and trade policy. The Division is actively involved in supporting the Government towards making effective strategies for WTO/FTA negotiations, and capacity building of Indian business on trade-related issues; dissemination of information & creating greater awareness among the stakeholders;

World Trade Organisation (WTO), Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Foreign Trade Division has been working in the area of international trade and trade policy. The Division is actively involved in supporting the Government towards making effective strategies for WTO/FTA negotiations, and capacity building of Indian business on trade-related issues; dissemination of information & creating greater awareness among the stakeholders; increasing their role and participation in trade policy making. Over the years, FICCI’s stand has been reflected in Indian Government’s position at multilateral and various bilateral negotiations. FICCI has been part of Joint Task Forces of several major FTAs (concluded or under negotiation), and actively participated in several Ministerial Conferences of the WTO.

The Foreign Trade Committee regularly interfaces with and submits proposals to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for necessary changes in the Foreign Trade Policy to simplify export-import procedures and bring about flexibility in various export promotion schemes. The recommendations help the Government in developing schemes and initiatives that are better suited for higher growth in India’s foreign trade, diversification of the trade basket, identifying new markets and generating more employment. Most of the suggestions given by FICCI get incorporated in modifications of the Foreign Trade Policy and its annual supplements.

The division has been organizing various sensitization workshops on issues related to WTO agreements & negotiations for industry representatives and also for Government officials. It also holds stakeholder consultations across the country for seeking inputs on WTO/FTA negotiations, and export-related issues. The division has been working closely with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India; State Governments; and a large number of think tanks, institutions and inter-governmental organizations.

The division also comes out with studies, surveys and occasional papers on trade-related issues and state-of-play of negotiations at the multilateral and bilateral levels.

Team Leader

Pragati Srivastava

Director

Timeline

2024
Apr
Event

Virtual Workshop on Decoding Tariff Schedules and Rules of Origin criteria under FTAs

2023
Nov
Event

E-Masterclass on Trade Finance and Risk Management

Aug
Study

FICCI Report on Non-Tariff Barriers

Event

E-Masterclass on Free Trade Agreements

2022
Jun
Press Release

Key decisions taken by the WTO members at MC-12 will benefit India and the developing world: FICCI

2021
Dec
Event

Reimagining Logistics

Aug
Event

E-Masterclass on Customs Issues

Mar
Press Release

Need to ensure that export control regime of dual-use items not an impediment but aligned to India's global commitments: DG, Directorate General of Foreign Trade

2020
Aug
Event

E-Masterclass on Foreign Trade Policy and Constitutional Issues

May
Event

Free Trade & Warehousing Zones (FTWZ) - How could they Support EXIM Trade & Logistics and make India a Manufacturing & International Trading Hub

Event

Interactive Session through Video Conference with Shri Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Special Secretary - Logistics, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Apr
Event

Online Interactive Session with Shri Amit Yadav, DGFT

2019
Nov
Event

Stakeholders Consultation on Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions in the WTO

May
Press Release

Utilize Mini-ministerial to create support for revitalizing WTO: FICCI to Government

Mar
Event

Interactive Session with Shri J S Deepak, India's Ambassador to the WTO on "WTO & Multilateral Trading System : Current State-of-Play and the Road Ahead"

Feb
Event

National Conference on Logistics Policy

Jan
Event

Interactive Session on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement

2018
Dec
Press Release

FICCI welcomes easing of US-China trade tensions India must play leading role in reforming WTO: Rashesh Shah, President, FICCI

Nov
Press Release

WTO should be modified, forward-looking, inclusive and deal with issues in a time-bound manner: Suresh Prabhu

Event

Strategic Alliance for WTO and Trade Remedies Law and Practice (SAWTR)

Sep
Event

Launch of the World Bank Group's Regional Trade Reprt "A Glass Half Full - The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia"

Jul
Press Release

FICCI Welcomes the award of the STA-1 STATUS by the US to India

Apr
Press Release

Inefficient logistics impacting competitiveness of Indian products: MoS Commerce & Industry

Press Release

India must lead in diffusing the possibilities of a global trade war: FICCI

Press Release

Single Nodal Agency created for integrated development of logistics: Suresh Prabhu

Event

Global Logistics Summit

Mar
Press Release

India must lead in defusing the possibilities of a global trade war: FICCI

Feb
Event

Interactive Session on E-Way Bill

2017
Dec
Press Release

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu briefs FICCI members on the WTO ministerial outcome

Event

Interactive Meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Mr Suresh Prabhu

Press Release

FICCI Welcomes Mid-Term Review of Foreign Trade Policy

Nov
Event

Interactive Session on E-Commerce, Digital Infrastructure, Trade Rules and WTO

Oct
Press Release

Trade will remain fundamental to global economy; needs to evolve with emerging technology, business and policy innovation

Event

Lecture on 'Globalisation and its Challenges to the Trade and Development Agenda'

Jul
Press Release

Implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement key to boost global trade, says experts

Event

Conference on Trade Facilitation Agreement: Learning from Implementation Experiences

Feb
Event

Workshop on Trade Facilitation in Services

2016
Oct
Event

India-United States Workshop on Trade Facilitation

Press Release

FICCI comments on the launch of dashboard for Foreign Trade Data

Jun
Press Release

FICCI comments on the liberalization of FDI regime

Press Release

49% FDI under the automatic route shall add to ease of doing business and investment in the private security industry

May
Press Release

Govt. urges industry to recommend appropriate tariff rates to propose at the APEC membership negotiations

Event

Stakeholders' Consultation on 'India and APEC: Issues and Options'

2015
Event

Conference on Changing Global Economic Scenario: Implications for India’s Trade Policy and Make in India Programme

Apr
Event

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Mar
Event

Seminar on 'WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of IPRs and it's Applications'

Press Release

FICCI comments on Trade Data for February 2015

2014
Dec
Event

Brainstorming Session on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP): Issues, Implications and Opportunities for Indian Business

Event

The Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on "India's Growth Trajectory in a Fractured World Economy: Opportunities and Challenges" with Dr Raghuram Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Nov
Press Release

New Foreign Trade Policy will focus on trade facilitation, simplifying procedures and diversification of markets & products: Pravir Kumar, DGFT

Event

Round table on 'India’s Foreign Trade Policy'

Press Release

FICCI comments on India-US agreement on food reserves

Event

Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Business Forum

Oct
Event

Industry Consultation on Tariff Liberalization in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Jul
Press Release

FICCI statement on WTO negotiations

Press Release

FICCI comments on WTO

Press Release

FICCI's Statement on WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement

Press Release

FICCI comments on Trade Data, released today

Press Release

FICCI comments on Trade Data, released today

Jun
Press Release

"Acceleration in export growth is good news" - Sidharth Birla, FICCI President

Event

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement

Apr
Press Release

FICCI comments on Trade Data

Event

CUTS 30th Anniversary Thought Leadership Lecture by Mr. Rajeev Kher, Commerce Secretary, Government of India

Mar
Event

Seminar on India's Engagement with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Opportunities and Challenges

Event

Seminar on 'Post-Bali Agenda of WTO and Trade Facilitation'

Jan
Event

Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on 'Banker's New Clothes: what's wrong with Banking and what to do About it' with Professor Martin Hellwig, Distinguished Professor and Director, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn, Germany

Press Release

FICCI Comments on Trade Data (December 2013)

Event

Seminar on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

2013
Dec
Press Release

FICCI Comments on Trade Data

Press Release

FICCI Congratulates Minister Anand Sharma

Nov
Press Release

"If Bali fails to deliver, then it will weaken the multilateralism and the credibility of WTO", says Naina Lal Kidwai

Press Release

FICCI Urges Trade Ministers to Conclude Deal in Bali

Event

Industry Consultation on Trade in Environment Goods

Press Release

FICCI Comments on Trade Data

Oct
Event

WTO, Multilateral Trading System and Bali Ministerial: Where Do We Stand & The Way Forward

Sep
Event

Seminar on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Aug
Event

Seminar on India's Engagement with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Trade Facilitation: Business Opportunities and Challenges

Event

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Chennai

Event

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Hyderabad

Jul
Event

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Mumbai

Event

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements(FTAs) - New Delhi

Event

Industry Consultation on India's Export Incentives and Related Issues

Apr
Press Release

FICCI Welcomes Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy "Trade Policy Measures will Boost Exports"

Press Release

WTO must Strengthen Rule-Based Framework and Multilateral Negotiations

Jan
Event

Special Address by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director general, World Trade Organization on "WTO and Multilateral Trading System: The Way Forward to Bali Ministerial"

2012
Dec
Press Release

FICCI comments on Export Sops

Event

Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on Animal Spirits, Policy Formulation and Economic Stability with Dr Robert J. Shiller, Yale University

Oct
Event

Industry Consultation on Treatment of Remanufactured Goods and Product Coverage of the Information Technology Agreement

Aug
Event

Seminar on 'Impact of WTO and FTAs on Gujarat'

Jul
Press Release

To strengthen multilateral trade agreements, world needs a strong and relevant WTO: Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy DG

Event

Stakeholders' consultation on 'Enhancing India-EU Bilateral Trade, Investment and Collaboration in Services'

Jun
Event

Facilitating Trade in South Asia: Sharing Best Practices and Exploring Regional Solutions

Event

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

May
Event

International Conference on Facilitating Trade in South Asia: Challenges and the Way Forward

Press Release

Rupee trade can boost competitiveness of Indian products in trade with Myanmar: FICCI Survey

2011
Dec
Event

Seminar on WTO, Multilateral Trading System and Doha Talks: where do we stand and the way forward

Press Release

FICCI Welcomes Russia's Joining the WTO

May
Press Release

FICCI Holds Industry Consultation on Sectoral Tariff Negotiations in WTO

Event

Industry Consultation on Sectoral Tariff Negotiations in WTO

Event

Seminar on WTO Doha Negotiations : An Update

Mar
Event

Special Address by Prof Jagdish Bhagwati on "International Trade, WTO and India: could we conclude Doha talks by 2011?"

Event

Seminar on Government Procurement Agreement

Feb
Event

Seminar on India-Japan CEPA and India-Malaysia CECA: Opportunities for Indian Business

Jan
Event

Seminar on Doha Development Agenda for Developed Nations: Agriculture Negotiations

2010
Dec
Event

National Seminar on the Business Implications of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) on india

Nov
Event

Special Address by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director General, World Trade Organisation (WTO) on "WTO and Doha Negotiations: Closing the Gaps and Moving Ahead"

Oct
Event

Special Address by Prof Frederick M. Abbott, Edward Ball Eminent Scholar on the "Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA): Issues and Implications"

Event

Seminar on Anti-Dumping, Anti-Subsidy and Safeguards Practices of the European Union (EU)

Event

National Forum on Aid for Trade:Strengthening South-South Trade & Investment

Aug
Event

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Event

Seminar on WTO's Government Procurement Agreement

Event

Meeting of FICCI Foreign Trade Committee and Special Address by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, WTO

Jul
Event

Industry Consultation on India's Free Trade Agreements with EU, Japan and EFTA

Event

Stakeholder Consultation on India-Turkey Free Trade Agreement

Press Release

Lack of Industry Feedback on Protection of Tariff Lines Will Hinder Govt's Ability to Get a Good Doha Deal: Commerce Secretary

Event

Capacity Building Workshop on WTO and Trade lssues

Jun
Event

Special Address by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, WTO on "WTO Doha Round Negotiations: The Way Forward and Where Does the Balance Lie?"

May
Event

Seminar on Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and TRIPs: lssues and Implications

Apr
Event

National Seminar on Transaction Costs

Feb
Event

Seminar on India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Goods: Implementation and Operational Issues

2009
Dec
Event

National Stakeholder consultation on WTO Negotiations

Sep
Event

WTO and Doha Negotiations: What is at Stake, Where Do We Stand and The Way Forward

Aug
Event

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Event

Lecture by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO) on “Importance of Doha Negotiations in Today’s World”

Event

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

Jul
Event

Special Address by Shri Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry on “WTO Doha Negotiations and India: The Road Ahead”

Jun
Event

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

Event

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

May
Event

Roundtable on "Doha Round of Negotiations in WTO: Taking Stock and the Way Ahead"

Events

Apr, 2024

Virtual Workshop on Decoding Tariff Schedules and Rules of Origin criteria under FTAs

Apr 16, 2024 Virtual (Webex Platform), 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Nov, 2023

E-Masterclass on Trade Finance and Risk Management

Nov 29 - Nov 30, 2023 Virtual Platform, 3.00 pm onwards

Aug, 2023

E-Masterclass on Free Trade Agreements

Aug 09 - Aug 10, 2023 Virtual Platform, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Dec, 2021

Reimagining Logistics

Dec 14, 2021 Virtual Platform, 3.00 to 4.00 pm

Aug, 2021

E-Masterclass on Customs Issues

Aug 19 - Aug 20, 2021 Virtual Platform

Aug, 2020

E-Masterclass on Foreign Trade Policy and Constitutional Issues

Aug 04 - Aug 06, 2020 Virtual Platform

May, 2020

Free Trade & Warehousing Zones (FTWZ) - How could they Support EXIM Trade & Logistics and make India a Manufacturing & International Trading Hub

May 29, 2020 Webinar, 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

Interactive Session through Video Conference with Shri Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Special Secretary - Logistics, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

May 13, 2020 Webinar, 03:00 PM

Apr, 2020

Online Interactive Session with Shri Amit Yadav, DGFT

Apr 30, 2020 Webinar, 03:00 PM

Nov, 2019

Stakeholders Consultation on Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions in the WTO

Nov 06, 2019 FICCI, New Delhi

Mar, 2019

Interactive Session with Shri J S Deepak, India's Ambassador to the WTO on "WTO & Multilateral Trading System : Current State-of-Play and the Road Ahead"

Mar 09, 2019 FICCI, New Delhi

Feb, 2019

National Conference on Logistics Policy

Feb 19 - Feb 20, 2019 FICCI, New Delhi

Jan, 2019

Interactive Session on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement

Jan 11, 2019 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

Nov, 2018

Strategic Alliance for WTO and Trade Remedies Law and Practice (SAWTR)

Nov 19, 2018 New Delhi

Sep, 2018

Launch of the World Bank Group's Regional Trade Reprt "A Glass Half Full - The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia"

Sep 28, 2018 FICCI, New Delhi

Apr, 2018

Global Logistics Summit

Apr 05, 2018 FICCI, New Delhi

Feb, 2018

Interactive Session on E-Way Bill

Feb 06, 2018 FICCI, New Delhi

Dec, 2017

Interactive Meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Mr Suresh Prabhu

Dec 19, 2017 FICCI, New Delhi

Nov, 2017

Interactive Session on E-Commerce, Digital Infrastructure, Trade Rules and WTO

Nov 01, 2017 FICCI, New Delhi

Oct, 2017

Lecture on 'Globalisation and its Challenges to the Trade and Development Agenda'

Oct 26, 2017 FICCI, New Delhi

Jul, 2017

Conference on Trade Facilitation Agreement: Learning from Implementation Experiences

Jul 21, 2017 FICCI, New Delhi

Feb, 2017

Workshop on Trade Facilitation in Services

Feb 21, 2017 FICCI, New Delhi

Oct, 2016

India-United States Workshop on Trade Facilitation

Oct 17 - Oct 18, 2016 New Delhi

May, 2016

Stakeholders' Consultation on 'India and APEC: Issues and Options'

May 31, 2016 FICCI, New Delhi

May, 2015

Conference on Changing Global Economic Scenario: Implications for India’s Trade Policy and Make in India Programme

May 12, 2015 FICCI, New Delhi

Apr, 2015

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Apr 02, 2015 New Delhi

Mar, 2015

Seminar on 'WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of IPRs and it's Applications'

Mar 27, 2015 Ahmedabad

Dec, 2014

Brainstorming Session on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP): Issues, Implications and Opportunities for Indian Business

Dec 17, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

The Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on "India's Growth Trajectory in a Fractured World Economy: Opportunities and Challenges" with Dr Raghuram Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Dec 12, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Nov, 2014

Round table on 'India’s Foreign Trade Policy'

Nov 29, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Business Forum

Nov 13 - Nov 14, 2014 New Delhi

Oct, 2014

Industry Consultation on Tariff Liberalization in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Oct 15, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Jun, 2014

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement

Jun 06, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Apr, 2014

CUTS 30th Anniversary Thought Leadership Lecture by Mr. Rajeev Kher, Commerce Secretary, Government of India

Apr 04, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Mar, 2014

Seminar on India's Engagement with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Opportunities and Challenges

Mar 15, 2014 Cochin

Seminar on 'Post-Bali Agenda of WTO and Trade Facilitation'

Mar 11, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Jan, 2014

Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on 'Banker's New Clothes: what's wrong with Banking and what to do About it' with Professor Martin Hellwig, Distinguished Professor and Director, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn, Germany

Jan 15, 2014 FICCI, New Delhi

Seminar on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Jan 09, 2014 New Delhi

Nov, 2013

Industry Consultation on Trade in Environment Goods

Nov 26, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Oct, 2013

WTO, Multilateral Trading System and Bali Ministerial: Where Do We Stand & The Way Forward

Oct 07, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Sep, 2013

Seminar on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Sep 12, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Aug, 2013

Seminar on India's Engagement with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Trade Facilitation: Business Opportunities and Challenges

Aug 22, 2013 Mumbai

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Chennai

Aug 05, 2013 Chennai

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Hyderabad

Aug 02, 2013 Hyderabad

Jul, 2013

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Mumbai

Jul 29, 2013 Mumbai

Industry Consultation on Rules of Origin in India's Free Trade Agreements(FTAs) - New Delhi

Jul 26, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Industry Consultation on India's Export Incentives and Related Issues

Jul 18, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Jan, 2013

Special Address by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director general, World Trade Organization on "WTO and Multilateral Trading System: The Way Forward to Bali Ministerial"

Jan 29, 2013 FICCI, New Delhi

Dec, 2012

Bharat Ram Memorial Seminar on Animal Spirits, Policy Formulation and Economic Stability with Dr Robert J. Shiller, Yale University

Dec 12, 2012 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

Oct, 2012

Industry Consultation on Treatment of Remanufactured Goods and Product Coverage of the Information Technology Agreement

Oct 11, 2012 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

Aug, 2012

Seminar on 'Impact of WTO and FTAs on Gujarat'

Aug 06 - Aug 07, 2012 SPIPA's Auditorium, Satellite Road, Opp. ISRO, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Jul, 2012

Stakeholders' consultation on 'Enhancing India-EU Bilateral Trade, Investment and Collaboration in Services'

Jul 06, 2012 New Delhi

Jun, 2012

Facilitating Trade in South Asia: Sharing Best Practices and Exploring Regional Solutions

Jun 12 - Jun 13, 2012 New Delhi

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Jun 08, 2012 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

May, 2012

International Conference on Facilitating Trade in South Asia: Challenges and the Way Forward

May 28, 2012 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

Dec, 2011

Seminar on WTO, Multilateral Trading System and Doha Talks: where do we stand and the way forward

Dec 20, 2011 FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi

May, 2011

Industry Consultation on Sectoral Tariff Negotiations in WTO

May 31, 2011 New Delhi

Seminar on WTO Doha Negotiations : An Update

May 10, 2011 New Delhi

Mar, 2011

Special Address by Prof Jagdish Bhagwati on "International Trade, WTO and India: could we conclude Doha talks by 2011?"

Mar 30, 2011 New Delhi

Seminar on Government Procurement Agreement

Mar 22, 2011 New Delhi

Feb, 2011

Seminar on India-Japan CEPA and India-Malaysia CECA: Opportunities for Indian Business

Feb 21, 2011 New Delhi

Jan, 2011

Seminar on Doha Development Agenda for Developed Nations: Agriculture Negotiations

Jan 31, 2011 New Delhi

Dec, 2010

National Seminar on the Business Implications of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) on india

Dec 07, 2010 New Delhi

Nov, 2010

Special Address by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director General, World Trade Organisation (WTO) on "WTO and Doha Negotiations: Closing the Gaps and Moving Ahead"

Nov 19, 2010 New Delhi

Oct, 2010

Special Address by Prof Frederick M. Abbott, Edward Ball Eminent Scholar on the "Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA): Issues and Implications"

Oct 22, 2010 New Delhi

Seminar on Anti-Dumping, Anti-Subsidy and Safeguards Practices of the European Union (EU)

Oct 21, 2010 Federation House, New Delhi

National Forum on Aid for Trade:Strengthening South-South Trade & Investment

Oct 19, 2010 Federation House, New Delhi

Aug, 2010

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Aug 24, 2010 New Delhi

Seminar on WTO's Government Procurement Agreement

Aug 19, 2010 New Delhi

Meeting of FICCI Foreign Trade Committee and Special Address by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, WTO

Aug 05, 2010 New Delhi

Jul, 2010

Industry Consultation on India's Free Trade Agreements with EU, Japan and EFTA

Jul 31, 2010 New Delhi

Stakeholder Consultation on India-Turkey Free Trade Agreement

Jul 28, 2010 New Delhi

Capacity Building Workshop on WTO and Trade lssues

Jul 20 - Jul 22, 2010 New Delhi

Jun, 2010

Special Address by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, WTO on "WTO Doha Round Negotiations: The Way Forward and Where Does the Balance Lie?"

Jun 03, 2010 New Delhi

May, 2010

Seminar on Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and TRIPs: lssues and Implications

May 28, 2010 New Delhi

Apr, 2010

National Seminar on Transaction Costs

Apr 27, 2010 New Delhi

Feb, 2010

Seminar on India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Goods: Implementation and Operational Issues

Feb 16, 2010 New Delhi

Dec, 2009

National Stakeholder consultation on WTO Negotiations

Dec 08 - Dec 09, 2009 New Delhi

Sep, 2009

WTO and Doha Negotiations: What is at Stake, Where Do We Stand and The Way Forward

Sep 03, 2009 New Delhi

Aug, 2009

National Seminar on Foreign Trade Policy

Aug 28, 2009 New Delhi

Lecture by Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO) on “Importance of Doha Negotiations in Today’s World”

Aug 22, 2009 New Delhi

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

Aug 04, 2009 Mumbai

Jul, 2009

Special Address by Shri Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry on “WTO Doha Negotiations and India: The Road Ahead”

Jul 29, 2009 New Delhi

Jun, 2009

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

Jun 04, 2009 Ahmedabad

Stakeholder Consultation on India’s FTAs with EU and EFTA Countries

Jun 03, 2009 New Delhi

May, 2009

Roundtable on "Doha Round of Negotiations in WTO: Taking Stock and the Way Ahead"

May 14, 2009 New Delhi

Chair

Mr Harish Ahuja

Managing Director
Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd.
Foreign Trade and Trade Facilitation Committee

Co-Chair

Mr Parthsarathi Jha

Partner Economic Laws Practice

Co-Chair

Dr. Azadar Khan, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, India Regulatory Affairs & Corporate Relations Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

Co-Chair

Mr Anil Mathew

President - Policy Advocacy & Chief Risk Officer
Hindalco Industries Limited
Foreign Trade and Trade Facilitation Committee
United News of India |

FICCI welcomes New Foreign Trade Policy

The Times of India |

India-UK to launch talks on FTA today

The Times of India |

US-China trade truce will help India: Experts

Business Standard |

India becoming world's fastest growing economy

The Hindu Business Line |

India can play crucial role in reforming WTO: FICCI

siliconindia News |

India renews call for WTO reform

Business Standard |

India renews call for WTO reform

The Hindu |

'Need to bolster WTO process'

The Tribune |

WTO clinches historic deal at Bali

The Statesman |

Azevedo wants govts to show flexibility

The Financial Express |

Fineprint on food security law must for pact at WTO

Business Standard |

WTO chief to meet Sharma today

Indian Express |

‘Lucky if Doha talks conclude by 2014’

The Financial Express |

Doha Round may conclude by 2014: Khullar

Business Standard |

Lucky if Doha talks concluded by 2014: Khullar

The Economic Times |

Swift political consensus key to Doha deal: Lamy

The Financial Express |

Doha Round failure will be a big blow: Lamy

The Financial Express |

WTO ministerial meet likely by Jan-Feb '10

Presentations made during the Board of Trade Meeting - New Delhi

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Certification of Origin of goods under EU Generalized System of Preference (GSP)

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Niryat Bandhu @ Your Desktop Online Certificate Programme under Niryat Bandhu Scheme

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Key decisions taken by the WTO members at MC-12 will benefit India and the developing world: FICCI

Detail Page

Need to ensure that export control regime of dual-use items not an impediment but aligned to India's global commitments: DG, Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Detail Page

Utilize Mini-ministerial to create support for revitalizing WTO: FICCI to Government

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FICCI welcomes easing of US-China trade tensions India must play leading role in reforming WTO: Rashesh Shah, President, FICCI

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WTO should be modified, forward-looking, inclusive and deal with issues in a time-bound manner: Suresh Prabhu

Detail Page

FICCI Welcomes the award of the STA-1 STATUS by the US to India

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Inefficient logistics impacting competitiveness of Indian products: MoS Commerce & Industry

Detail Page

Single Nodal Agency created for integrated development of logistics: Suresh Prabhu

Detail Page

India must lead in diffusing the possibilities of a global trade war: FICCI

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India must lead in defusing the possibilities of a global trade war: FICCI

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Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu briefs FICCI members on the WTO ministerial outcome

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FICCI Welcomes Mid-Term Review of Foreign Trade Policy

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Trade will remain fundamental to global economy; needs to evolve with emerging technology, business and policy innovation

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Implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement key to boost global trade, says experts

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FICCI comments on the launch of dashboard for Foreign Trade Data

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49% FDI under the automatic route shall add to ease of doing business and investment in the private security industry

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FICCI comments on the liberalization of FDI regime

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Govt. urges industry to recommend appropriate tariff rates to propose at the APEC membership negotiations

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FICCI comments on Trade Data for February 2015

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New Foreign Trade Policy will focus on trade facilitation, simplifying procedures and diversification of markets & products: Pravir Kumar, DGFT

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FICCI comments on India-US agreement on food reserves

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FICCI statement on WTO negotiations

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FICCI comments on WTO

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FICCI's Statement on WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement

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FICCI comments on Trade Data, released today

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FICCI comments on Trade Data, released today

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"Acceleration in export growth is good news" - Sidharth Birla, FICCI President

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FICCI comments on Trade Data

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FICCI Comments on Trade Data (December 2013)

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FICCI Comments on Trade Data

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FICCI Congratulates Minister Anand Sharma

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"If Bali fails to deliver, then it will weaken the multilateralism and the credibility of WTO", says Naina Lal Kidwai

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FICCI Urges Trade Ministers to Conclude Deal in Bali

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FICCI Comments on Trade Data

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FICCI Welcomes Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy "Trade Policy Measures will Boost Exports"

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WTO must Strengthen Rule-Based Framework and Multilateral Negotiations

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FICCI comments on Export Sops

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To strengthen multilateral trade agreements, world needs a strong and relevant WTO: Harsha Vardhana Singh, Deputy DG

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Rupee trade can boost competitiveness of Indian products in trade with Myanmar: FICCI Survey

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FICCI Welcomes Russia's Joining the WTO

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FICCI Holds Industry Consultation on Sectoral Tariff Negotiations in WTO

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Lack of Industry Feedback on Protection of Tariff Lines Will Hinder Govt's Ability to Get a Good Doha Deal: Commerce Secretary

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Weekly Trade Tracker: March 2-8, 2024

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Weekly Trade Tracker: February 24 - March 1, 2024

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The India - East Africa Trade Helpdesk, in cooperation with Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa, aims to facilitate trade and investment between India and East Africa by creating transparency and predictability. The trade portal gathers market information and requirements from different ITC trade tools needed for Indian and East African companies to export a specific product. Indian and East African companies can select their destination and exporting market, as well as the specific 6-digit HS product code.

Web Link: https://euromed.macmap.org/indiafrica/

Request for Feedback on India-Israel FTA

India is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement FTA with Israel. The next round of negotiations of India-Israel FTA is likely to be held shortly. In this regard, Ministry of Commerce & Industry has requested for inputs from trade and industry on Israel’s request list of industrial products.

A list of industrial products containing 91 items will be submitted by Israel subsequently.

As may be seen from the attached document, by marking "R" in column no. 5 Israel has indicated its request to India for making a product duty-free zero duty.
Wherever an item is already duty-free zero duty for importing into India, in column no 5 Israel has marked "B" so as to request that duty is bound at zero by India i.e. for such items, India cannot levy any duty in future on imports from Israel.

You are requested to kindly provide us with the following information in the enclosed file:
  • Whether India could grant “zero duty” to Israel, i.e. make the item duty free zero duty for imports from Israel column no6
  • In how many years phasing out of the duty may be considered column no7
  • Reasons for your suggestions column no8
Your valuable feedback with suitable justification will help the Government to take an appropriate negotiating stand while exchanging the request lists.

Kindly send us feedback/inputs pertaining to your line of business. Comments/inputs/feedback may kindly be e-mailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 22nd January 2015

For further details and clarification, Please contact:

Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani 
T: 011-23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084

Request for Feedback on India-New Zealand CECA Negotiations

India is negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement CECA with New Zealand. The 10th round of India-New Zealand CECA Negotiations is scheduled to be held on 16-18 February, 2015. This offers us an opportunity to bring to the notice of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, the negotiating stand of the industry to be adopted during the forthcoming round to be held shortly.

The negotiations are being held for Market Access, Trade in Goods TiG, Investment, Services, ROO Rules of Origin, SPS/TBT, Legal and Institution matters, Trade facilitation and Customs Cooperation Chapters.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry has requested for feedback from trade and industry on the above lines. Since the meeting is scheduled to be held in mid-February, and tome is short, could we request you to treat this request as urgent.

Kindly send us feedback/inputs pertaining to your line of business. Comments/feedback may kindly be e-mailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com at the earliest. 

For further details and clarification, please contact:
Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani 
T: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084

Request for Feedback on United States Generalised Scheme of Preferences GSP

USTR has recently announced the 2015 Annual GSP Review. The GSP program contains built-in import ceilings known as competitive needs limitations CNL to limit duty-free access to the US market for products and countries that might not otherwise be “competitive”. The GSP statute requires termination of GSP benefits for products from specified beneficiaries if those products either account for 50 percent or more of the value of total US imports of that product or exceed a certain dollar value $170 million in 2015 increases by $5 million per year. 

It has been noticed that two Engineering/ Auto Component Products HTS 7325.91.00 Iron or steel grinding balls and HTS 8708.50.95 Half shafts for tractors and buses would lose the US GSP preferences since they account for 55.2% and 64.5% respectively of US imports from January-August 2015. The import statistics released by US Department of Commerce for the period 2012 to August 2015 are downloadable for your ready reference Annex 1, Annex-2 and Annex 3.  

Since the US Bureau of Census data suggests that percentage of total US imports for each of these product lines has reached the threshold limit of 50%, GSP benefits on these items would be removed. However, if you would like to propose that these products should continue to receive US GSP benefits, you can provide your submissions with suitable justification. 

All concerned should follow detailed guidelines for submitting their petitions. All submissions for the GSP Annual Review must conform to GSP regulations. The regulations are available on the USTR Web site at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-preference-gsp/gsp-program-inf. The GSP guidebook available at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/GSP-Guidebook-July-2015.pdf has detailed information on the GSP program. 

The US Federal Register notice provides information on how to submit these petitions Annex 4. These instructions are as follows:

  • All submissions in response must be in English and must be submitted electronically via http://www.regulations.gov, using docket number USTR-2015-0013.
  • To make a submission via http:// www.regulations.gov, enter the docket number for this review-USTR-2015-0013 - in the ‘‘Search for’’ field on the home page and click ‘‘Search.’’ The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ‘‘Notice’’ under ‘‘Document Type’’ in the ‘‘Filter Results by’’ section on the left side of the screen and click on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now.’
  • Submissions must include, at the beginning of the submission, or on the first page if an attachment, the following text in bold and underlined: 1 ‘‘2015 GSP Annual Review’’ and 2 the eight-digit HTSUS subheading number in which the product is classified for product petitions or the name of the country for country practice petitions. 
  • Interested parties submitting petitions that request action with respect to specific products should also list at the beginning of the submission, or on the first page if an attachment the following information: 1 The requested action and 2 if applicable, the beneficiary developing country. Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Any data attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. 
  • Each submitter will receive a submission tracking number upon completion of the submissions procedure at http:// www.regulations.gov. The tracking number will be the submitter’s confirmation that the submission was received into http:// www.regulations.gov. The confirmation should be kept for the submitter’s records. Documents not submitted in accordance with these instructions may not be considered in this review. 

Please Contact for further information:
Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani 
Tel: 011-23487467 or 23487511

Request for feedback on review of INDIA-ASEAN trade in goods agreement

As you are aware, India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement FTA in Goods has been under implementation from January 2010. At the 12th ASEAN Economic Ministers Consultations with India held in August 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Ministers agreed to review the trade agreement in order to maintain the momentum of bilateral trade and investment.

The agreed scope of the review of India ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement includes the following issues:

a Rules of Origin including PSRs
b Sanitary and Phtyo-sanitary SPS / Technical barriers to Trade TBT issues
c Other issues such as verification process, release of consignments, Operational Certification Procedures OCPs, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation CPTF

In view of the upcoming Review of India-ASEAN FTA, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry seeks feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders on issues impacting the trade and industry since the implementation of the FTA. You are requested to kindly send feedback relevant to your line of business on the above-mentioned issues. 

Since the review process is about to start, could we request you to kindly treat this as urgent. 

Comments/inputs/feedback may please be e-mailed to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 6 January 2016. 

In case you or your colleagues need any further details and clarification, you are welcome to get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani Tel: 011-23487 467,  23487 511 and 2376 5084.

Request for feedback on investment agreement under India`s trade agreements with Australia and RCEP countries

As you are aware, India is negotiating key trade pacts namely, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP and the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement CECA. RCEP is a proposed Free Trade Agreement FTA between 16 Countries namely the ASEAN Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and its 6 FTA partners i.e. Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

A working group on Investment is negotiating the Investment chapter under both RCEP and Australia CECA, which will cover the four pillars of investment promotion, protection, facilitation and liberalization. India has prepared a schedule of sectors with respect to which it would like to reserve its policy space Annex enclosed, while making commitments under the Investment Agreements to be signed with other countries. The schedule mentions about the reservations taken by India with respect to specific sectors, sub-sectors or activities for which it may maintain existing, or adopt new or more restrictive, measures that do not conform to certain obligations.

In view of above, Ministry of Finance has requested for feedback/comments on measures and descriptions supporting the reservations imposed. The Proposed schedule of India is enclosed for your ready reference. You may add to the list or give your comments on the existing provisions.

Given the paucity of time and treating this matter as urgent, may I request you to kindly examine the enclosed documents and provide your suggestions/views/inputs latest by 7th January 2016.

Comments/inputs/feedback may kindly be e-mailed to my colleague Ms Saloni Jha saloni.jha@ficci.com. In case you or your colleagues need any further details and clarification, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani Tel: 011-23487467 or 23487511.

Request for feedback/Inputs on informal mechanism for resolution of non-tariff measures NTMs

As you are aware, India is engaged in the ongoing negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement FTA between 16 Countries including 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and its 6 FTA partners i.e. Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. This is by far the most comprehensive and far-reaching FTA under negotiation by India. 

Under the RCEP trade in goods agreement, India is planning to introduce a proposal on an informal mechanism for resolution of Non-Tariff Measures NTMs. It will be a non-legal, and non–adversarial mechanism for seeking resolution on NTMs amongst RCEP Participating Countries RPCs. Moreover, the informal mechanism would be entered into only on the basis of consent of both the parties and is hence non-binding in nature Annexure enclosed.

In view of above, Department of Commerce is seeking feedback/comments on the informal mechanism. Your valuable suggestions will help the policy makers to take suitable negotiating stand. Given the paucity of time, may I request you to kindly treat this as urgent. Comments/inputs/feedback may please be e-mailed to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 7 January 2016. 

In case you or your colleagues need any further details and clarification, you are welcome to get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani Tel: 011-23487 467,  23487 511 and 2376 5084.

Request for feedback/inputs on regional comprehensive economic partnership RCEP

As you are aware, India is engaged in the ongoing negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement FTA between 16 Countries including 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and its 6 FTA partners i.e. Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. This is by far the most comprehensive and far-reaching FTA under negotiation by India. 

A Sub-Working Group on Rules of Origin SWGROO is negotiating the Rules of Origin ROO for the RCEP. The ninth round of negotiations on Rules of Origin was recently concluded in December 2015 in Laos. During this round, detailed discussions took place on the line-wise PSRs tabled by participating countries and specific queries were also raised by some partner countries for some PSRs offered by India and other issues from previous rounds. 

1.Queries related to specific PSRs proposed by India 
    • Engineering Sector including Steel and Automobiles:


 HS Code & Description PSR Proposed by India  Issues raised during ROO negotiations
 HS 740721 - of copper alloys: of copper-zinc base alloys (brass)  RVC 25 + CTSH  It was asked as to why India is proposing RVC of 25%
 HS 740911 – of refined copper: in coils  CTSH  Reasons for proposing CTSH were sought
 HS 760310 – Powders of non-lamellar structure

 

HS 760410 – of aluminium, not alloyed

 

HS 760421 – of aluminium alloys: hollow profiles
 CTH  Reason for tabling PSR – CTH instead of the alternate criteria of ‘RVC 40 or CTH’ were asked
HS 761090 – Other

 

HS 780600 – other articles of lead
 CTSH  Other participating countries want to know the reason for tabling PSR - CTSH

PSRs for Engineering Sector including Steel and Automobiles (HS Chapters 72-83 and 87) is enclosed (Annex-1).

    • Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals:

 HS Code & DescriptionPSR Proposed by India Issues raised during ROO negotiations
 HS 250200 – Unroasted iron pyritesRVC 40 + CTHReason for tabling ‘dual criteria’ PSR of ‘RVC 40 + CTH’ instead of the alternate criteria of ‘RVC40 or CTH’ were asked 
 HS 252530 - Mica Waste RVC40 or CTHOther participating countries want to know why ‘RVC40 or CTH’ is applied; they are of the view that waste and scrap should be Wholly Obtained (WO).
 HS 391400 - Ion exchangers based on polymers of headings 3901 to 3913, in primary forms RVC40 + CTSHReason for tabling ‘dual criteria’ PSR – ‘RVC40 + CTSH’ instead of the alternate criteria of ‘RVC40 or CTH’ were asked and how CTSH would be applied in this case.
HS 3920 - Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics, non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials RVC40 + CTSHHow CTSH will be applied as polymers under HS 3920 are of different chemicals

PSRs for Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (HS Chapters 25-39) is enclosed (Annex-2)


2.Dual Criteria PSRs: India has proposed a dual criteria of ‘CTC + RVC 40%’ as PSR under a large number of HS lines whereas all other partner countries have given coequal and native PSRs as ‘CTC or RVC 40%’. As a result, India has been requested by other RCEP members to adopt the similar PSR format. PSRs for Engineering Sector including Steel and Automobiles and PSRs for Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals are enclosed for your perusal and comments. 

3.Set of Goods: Korea submitted a proposal in the previous round of negotiation on ‘Sets of Goods’. It contains Korea’s suggestion for determining the Rules of Origins for goods exported in the form of Sets. The proposal Annex-3 is enclosed for feedback.
In view of above, may I request you to kindly send feedback on the above points for products that are in your business interest. 

As desired by the Commerce Ministry, we have to forward all the inputs latest by 11th January 2015 Monday. Thanks for your kind understanding. We shall greatly appreciate if you kindly email your inputs to Ms Saloni Jha saloni.jha@ficci.com. 

For any further details and clarification,  your colleagues may please get in touch with Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani Tel: 011-23487467 or 23487511.
 




Request for input on India-EU bilateral trade and investment agreement BTIA

As you are aware, negotiations under the India-EU Bilateral Trade & Investment Agreement (BTIA) are expected to resume soon. India and EU started the talks for a BTIA in 2007, however there are several issues which still remain to be negotiated. The last round of talks was held in 2013 and now both sides are making efforts to revive the talks.

One of the key negotiating areas under the India-EU BTIA is issue of ‘Rules of Origin (RoO)’. These are the rules that confer the origin of goods for availing tariff preferences under the proposed BTIA. These rules are based on two parameters i.e. change in tariff classification (CTC) and value addition (VA). A brief note on RoO Classifications is enclosed for your reference (Annexure).

In view of the upcoming round of negotiations of the India-EU BTIA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has requested Industry to provide inputs on the Rules of Origin for their respective items/tariff lines. Your feedback/ suggestions would help the Government to take appropriate negotiating stance. We would request you to provide your inputs at the HS 6-digit level in the following format, as desired by the Commerce Ministry:


HS Code 6-digit

Description

Proposed RoO (Value Addition/CTC)

Rationale (production cycle i.e. inputs, raw materials, semi-finished goods, cost structure, production, capacity utilization)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Comments/feedback may please be e-mailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 15th January 2016. In case you or your colleague(s) need any further details and clarification, you are welcome to get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011-23487 467,  23487 511 and 2376 5084).


Request for Feedback: Review of India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA

India - Republic of Korea (South Korea) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in effect since January 2010. As part of the ongoing CEPA review process, the Korean side has recently forwarded a list of 628 tariff lines in India's schedule under CEPA requesting to consider elimination of tariff on these lines. Presently all these tariff lines are in sensitive or excluded category (ANNEX 1) denoted by RED, SEN and EXC in India’s Schedule of commitments.

These categories are defined as follows:
  • RED : duties shall be reduced to one to five percent from the base rate in eight equal annual stages beginning on the date this Agreement enters into force i.e. 1 January 2010
  • SEN : duties shall reduce by fifty percent of the base rate in ten equal annual stages beginning on the date this Agreement enters into force i.e. 1 January 2010
  • EXC : no tariff reduction or elimination

Ministry of Commerce and Industry is in the process of seeking inputs from the industry on these 628 tariff lines. Since the next meeting of Joint Committee at Ministerial level under India-Korea CEPA is scheduled for early next month, comments/inputs/feedback should be sent to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 30th May 2016.

In case of any queries, kindly get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Request for feedback on India-Korea CEPA

India’s Request List for seeking further tariff concessions by Republic of Korea


India - Republic of Korea (South Korea) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in effect since January 2010. In order to upgrade the agreement to achieve the desired qualitative and quantitative increase in trade, a review of the CEPA has been initiated. The next round of Inter-Ministerial meeting is scheduled for June 2016.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry is preparing a Request List for Korea seeking further concessions in Korea’s tariff schedule. So far, they have put together a request list of 270 tariff lines in Korea’s schedule (Annexure - India's request list - IK CEPA). In order to expand the list, the Government has requested for suggestions/feedback from the industry for items of India’s export interest. 

Kindly provide inputs on the tariff lines in the same format as the Annexure. Please support it with suitable justification to enable the Government to negotiate for tariff reduction/elimination on the proposed items. 

Also, the Ministry has sought suggestions on any other issues apart from tariffs that fall under the ambit of India-Korea CEPA. Comments/inputs/feedback may kindly be e-mailed to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 13th June.  

In case of any queries, kindly get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487511, 23487467 and 23765084).

Request for Feedback on India-Japan CEPA

India–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in effect since August 2011. In order to review and monitor the implementation and operation of the CEPA, a Joint Committee was established under the agreement. The third review meeting of Joint Committee is scheduled for July 2016 at the Secretary level.

In view of the above, Ministry of Commerce and Industry is seeking inputs from the industry on the problems being faced while implementing the CEPA. These issues could pertain to market access obstacles, rules of origin, SPS/TBT measures or any other concern related to the India-Japan CEPA. 

Kindly send feedback / inputs to saloni.jha@ficci.com at your earliest convenience. 

For further details and clarification, kindly get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Feedback Request: Customs Consultative Group CCG to Resolve Import/Export Related Difficulties

Customs Consultative Group (CCG) was set up under the Chairmanship of Member (Customs), Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) with the objective of addressing/resolving import/export related difficulties and allied issues of concern to trade and industry. 

CCG has sought inputs from trade and industry for the 9th round of CCG consultations to be held soon. It would be a useful opportunity to highlight the problems and concerns of trade and industry on policies and procedures, and get them resolved or at least to have the impact of such difficulties minimised. Interested persons may send the details of the issues to take up with the CCG. 

Note: The CCG is not mandated to take up individual or company-specific cases or grievances.

In view of the deadline set by the CCG, arrange to send your feedback/inputs at the earliest to Ms Saloni Jha/ Ms Prerna Dani (Email: saloni.jha@ficci.com, Tel: 011-2348 7467 and 2348 7511).

Request for Feedback / Inputs on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP

India is engaged in the ongoing negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Countries comprising of 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its 6 FTA partners i.e. Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. This is by far the most comprehensive and far-reaching FTA under negotiation by India. 

The Sub-Working Group on Rules of Origin (SWGROO) is negotiating the Rules of Origin (ROO) for RCEP. Department of Commerce has carried out several rounds of consultations with the industry and incorporated several inputs. However, some of the elements of Rules of Origin on which they are seeking immediate feedback is as follows:
  • Tariff Lines on which Product Specific Rules of Origin (PSRs) have not been received 
  • Justification for requesting Dual Criteria i.e. “RVC 40 + CTC”.
    (Other member countries are of the view that in the production process, either “RVC” or “CTC” criteria can lead to substantial transformation. Therefore, India has been asked to justify its stand as this criterion can be trade restrictive which will neither help the expansion of exports nor imports.)
Kindly go through the annexure (Annexure 1) and provide specific inputs with appropriate details.

The Government has also invited inputs/suggestions from trade and industry on the following issues which will be taken up in the next round of negotiations next week:
  • Method of Calculation of Regional Value Content (RVC) [Build-up / Build-down formulae]
  • Self-Certification v/s Third Party Certification
  • Full Cumulation vs Regional/Bilateral Cumulation
  • Produced Exclusively
  • De Minimis
  • Set of Goods
  • Chemical Reaction Rule
Send feedback/inputs to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 20 August 2016. For further details and clarification, get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Request for Feedback on Non-Tariff Measures

World Trade Organization regularly organizes Committee Meetings on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)/ Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) to give an opportunity to member countries to raise their concerns with regard to the non-tariff measures taken by any other member country. The forum also provides an opportunity to raise long-pending issues which are affecting trade bilaterally.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has, therefore, invited inputs/suggestions from trade and industry on the Non-tariff measures issues viz SPS and TBT, faced by our domestic exporters to be raised in the forthcoming WTO SPS/TBT committee meetings.

Comments/feedback/inputs can be emailed to saloni.jha@ficci.com. In case you or your colleague(s) need any further details and clarification, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011-23487 467,  23487 511 and 2376 5084).

Request for Feedback on Issues Related to India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee JETCO

India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was established in January 2005. The JETCO has been conceived as a business driven institutional framework to enhance trade and investment between the two countries. JETCO provides a forum to UK companies to enhance their links and develop new partnerships with India business and decision makers.

The 11th meeting of India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) scheduled to be held early next month in New Delhi. Moreover, a new Working Group on Trade focusing on both Goods and Services related issues has been formed. 

Ministry of Commerce and Industry is therefore seeking inputs/suggestions from the industry on trade related issues specific to UK for taking up in the forthcoming JETCO meeting. 

Kindly send us feedback / inputs to saloni.jha@ficci.com. For any further details and clarification, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011-23487 467, 23487 511 and 2376 5084).

Request For Feedback/Inputs on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP

India is engaged in the ongoing negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Countries comprising of 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its 6 FTA partners i.e. Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. This is by far the most comprehensive and far-reaching FTA under negotiation by India. 

The Sub-Working Group on Rules of Origin (SWGROO) is negotiating the Rules of Origin (ROO) for RCEP. Thirteen rounds of meetings of the SGWROO have already been held. The Department of Commerce has carried out several rounds of consultations with the industry and incorporated several inputs. However, for some of the tariff lines, the decision is pending because of divergent view taken by India. 

Kindly go through the enclosures (Agenda Note and Annexure -1) and provide specific inputs with appropriate details.

Since, the next round of negotiations is scheduled to be held from 2nd December 2016, kindly treat this as urgent. As advised by Commerce Ministry, comments/inputs can be emailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by Monday, 28th November 2016. 

For any further details and clarification, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Request for feedback on WTO Trade Policy Review of USA


World Trade Organization (WTO) has a Trade Policy Review (TPR) mechanism under which it regularly reviews the trade policies of its member-countries. The Trade Policy review is a regular exercise conducted by the WTO for each of its members at fixed periodic intervals. It is a system which focuses on trade policies and practices of the Member under review, in order to assess its performance under the multilateral trade disciplines.

The next Trade Policy Review of the United States of America is scheduled on 19th and 21st December 2016. US is a major trading partner of India and therefore its trade policies and practices have a tremendous impact on Indian business. The TPR process would provide an opportunity to the Indian business to raise trade-related problems faced by them in the US. These issues could include problems such as deficiencies in US laws, policies and practices that restrain free and fair international trade in goods and services, e.g. subsidized exports, lack of transparency, discrimination against foreign goods and services etc.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has invited inputs and suggestions from the industry on issues highlighted above. Kindly send comments/feedback to saloni.jha@ficci.com latest by 8 December 2016. For further details and clarification, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011-23487 467, 23487 511 and 2376 5084).

Request for Input on India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement CECPA

The negotiations under India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) are being revived by both countries. The talks were suspended three years ago and now both sides are making efforts to reconvene the negotiations.

One of the key negotiating areas under the proposed India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) is the issue of ‘Rules of Origin (RoO)’. These are the rules that would confer the origin of goods for availing tariff preferences under the proposed CECPA. The classification of Rules of Origin could include the following categories:

• Wholly Originating : Wholly Obtained good that does not contain any input from a    country that is not a party to the FTA
• CC : Change in Chapter at 2 digit HS Code level
• CTH : Change in Tariff Heading at 4 digit HS Code level         
• CTSH : Change in Tariff Sub-Heading at 6 digit HS Code level, and
•  Value Addition (%)

In view of the upcoming round of negotiations of the India-Mauritius CECPA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has requested industry to provide inputs on the Rules of Origin for their respective items/tariff lines which would help the Government to take the appropriate negotiating stance. 

Kindly provide your inputs at the HS 6-digit level in the following format, as desired by the Commerce Ministry:


HS Code 6-digit

Description

Rule as per the actual process of production and assuming all inputs are imported

Rule proposed and the rationale thereof (production cycle i.e. inputs, raw materials, semi-finished goods; cost structure; production; capacity utilization)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Government has also invited inputs/suggestions from trade and industry on the following issues which will be taken up in the next round of negotiations:

• Cumulation - Cumulation of ROO allows a producer of one contracting party of an    FTA to use input materials from another contracting party without losing the originating  status of that input for the purpose of the applicable rules of origin.
•  Self-Certification
•  De-minimis criteria

Kindly email comments/feedback to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 15th January 2017. For any further details, please get in touch with either Ms Saloni Jha or Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011-23487 467,  23487 511 and 2376 5084).


Request for Inputs on India - Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement

India and Eurasian Economic Union had undertaken a Joint Feasibility Study on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EAEU and its member states, of the one part and Republic of India of the other part in June 2015. The report has been finalized and its recommendations have been accepted by both the parties. Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) constitutes of 5 member countries namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russian.

The Joint Feasibility Study Group (JFSG) report (Annexure-1) has concluded that the proposed FTA is feasible and mutually beneficial with substantial welfare gains and augmentation in trade in goods. The negotiations for India-EAEU Free Trade Agreement are likely to commence soon. Successful conclusion of this trade negotiation will open new opportunities for Indian exporters in a new market whose potential has largely remained untapped.

Given this background, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has invited inputs/suggestions on the following issues:
  • India's Defensive List for Imports: Provide inputs on the products in which India should not offer any tariff concession / tariff reduction on imports at HS-8 digit level with full justification in terms of EAEU price, current installed production levels, capacity utilization, employment data etc.
  • India's Exports Wish List: Specify the products which are in India’s export interest.
  • Any other inputs/issues relevant to India-EAEU FTA
Comments/feedback may please be e-mailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 31St January 2017.

Contact:
Ms Prerna Dani
T: 23487511, 23765084
E: prerna.dani@ficci.com

Request for Feedback on WTO Trade Policy Review of Japan

World Trade Organization (WTO) has a Trade Policy Review (TPR) mechanism under which it regularly reviews the trade policies of its member-countries. The Trade Policy review is a regular exercise conducted by the WTO for each of its members at fixed periodic intervals. It is a system which focuses on trade policies and practices of the Member under review, in order to assess its performance under the multilateral trade disciplines.

The next Trade Policy Review of the Japan is scheduled on 8th and 10th March 2017. Japan is a major trading partner of India and therefore its trade policies and practices have tremendous impact on Indian business. The TPR process would provide an opportunity to the Indian businesses to raise trade-related problems faced by them in the Japan. These issues could include problems such as deficiencies in Japanese laws, policies and practices that restrain free and fair international trade in goods and services, e.g. subsidized exports, lack of transparency, discrimination against foreign goods and services etc.

In view of the above, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has invited inputs and suggestions from the industry on issues highlighted above.

Kindly e-mail comments/feedback to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 6th February 2017. 

Contact:

Ms Prerna Dani 
T: 23487 511, 2376 5084
E: prerna.dani@ficci.com

Request for Input on India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement CECPA

India is negotiating Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius. The talks were suspended three years ago and now both sides are making efforts to reconvene the negotiations. 

Toward this, Mauritius has forwarded a list of 290 tariff lines for seeking immediate liberalization under the proposed CECPA. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is in the process of seeking inputs from the industry on these tariff lines (Annexure-1). 

Kindly go through the annexure and provide specific inputs with appropriate details. Comments /inputs /feedback can be emailed to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 31 March 2017

For any further details / clarifications, please get in touch with Ms Prerna Dani (Tel: 011- 23487 511 and 2376 5084).

Request for Feedback on Non-Tariff Measures

World Trade Organization (WTO) regularly organizes Committee Meetings on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)/ Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) to give an opportunity to member-countries to raise their concerns with regard to non-tariff measures (NTMs) adopted by other member-country(ies). The forum also provides an opportunity to raise issues which are adversely affecting trade flow.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has invited inputs/suggestions on the Non-Tariff Measures issues viz SPS and TBT, faced by Indian business, to be raised in the forthcoming WTO SPS/TBT committee meetings.

Kindly send feedback/inputs to neha.anand@ficci.com. For any further details and clarification please get in touch with Ms Prerna Dani or Ms Neha Anand (Tel: 011-23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Request for feedback on India-Korea CEPA

India has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) which has been in effect since January 2010. In order to review and monitor the implementation and operation of the CEPA, a Joint Committee was established under the agreement. The third meeting of Joint Committee at ministerial level is scheduled to be held on 23rd September 2017 in Seoul, South Korea for reviewing the implementation of CEPA. 

Department of Commerce is seeking inputs from the industry on the problems being faced while implementing the CEPA, which can be taken up with the Korean side during the joint committee meeting. These issues could pertain to market access obstacles, rules of origin, SPS/TBT measures or any other concern related to the India-Korea CEPA. 
Kindly provide comments/inputs/feedback to prerna.dani@ficci.com latest by 11th September 2017

In case of any queries, kindly get in touch with either Ms Prerna Dani or Ms Neha Anand (Tel: 011- 23487 511, 23487 467 and 2376 5084).

Construction of a Services Trade Restrictiveness Index

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (GOI), in association with IIFT, is conducting a study to develop a sector-specific Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) by quantifying information on regulations that act as impediments to trade in services. The main objective of the study is to assess the nature and extent of existing barriers that service exporters and importers face while trading their services in the world market. This initiative will be of immense help in government negotiations in trade agreements.


Guidelines for the Questionnaire 

The service traders of each sector and each country face a set of restrictions/regulations while trading their services. These restrictions faced by them, also called measures are grouped into a set of 5 broad policy areas or impediments to trade in services viz.

1. Foreign Entry Restrictions - barriers to foreign ownership and other impediments to market entry for service suppliers

2. Restrictions on Movement of people - limiting the movement of professionals based on certain nationality/residency requirements, non-recognition of qualifications gained abroad, etc.

3. Other Discriminatory measures & International Standards – discrimination between local and foreign service providers, for instance, on the basis of tax/subsidy treatments.

4. Barriers to competition - restrictions that limit effective competition, distorting the level playing field and discouraging foreign participation in different services markets

5. Regulatory transparency & Other Administrative requirements - opaque regulatory regimes increase the cost of compliance and uncertainty in business operations

The survey questionnaire consists of two parts - Part A & Part B. Please note that ALL fields are mandatory. In the first step, please choose the sector in which you have primarily traded and for the chosen sector ONLY, kindly fill in the rest of the entries.

Part A of the survey entails allocating a total of 100 points to the above mentioned five policy areas such that the policy area that seems most restrictive to you as a trader/sector-expert gets assigned the highest point and so on and so forth. The total of the assigned weights should add up to 100.

In Part B of the questionnaire, instead of allocating numeric weights to the importance of the five policy areas simultaneously, you are requested to make certain bilateral comparisons. As you can observe, there are ten rows in this question, and in each row, you are requested to answer two questions. The first question asks you to make a bilateral comparison between the two listed policy areas. In the second question, a scale of 1-9 allows you to quantify how important the chosen policy area is, over the unchosen one.

For instance, if the two policy areas in consideration are - Foreign Entry Restrictions V/S Restrictions to movement of People and you choose Foreign entry Restrictions as being more important, choosing 3 on the scale would mean that it is of ‘moderate importance’ in comparison to Restrictions to movement of People. The scale has been mentioned in the questionnaire explicitly.

To contribute to this Project, please click *Here*.

Your insights and hands-on-experience on the challenges faced by service traders will be extremely useful to identify priority areas of reforms for a set of both rich and developing economies.

For more details about the project, please click *Here*. Guidelines for filling in your responses are available on this *Link*

Task Force on Trade Policy

FICCI has constituted a Task Force on Trade Policy to work closely with the industry, Government and research institutions with the objective of having discussions and consultations on areas pertaining to trade policy. The Task Force is chaired by Mr R V Kanoria, Past President, FICCI and Chairman & Managing Director, Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Limited.

 

It proposes to undertake the following :

  • Conduct stakeholders' consultations / focussed conferences / closed-door interactions on matters of related to trade policy including issues on FTAs 
  • Deliberate on India's approach to WTO issues
  • Analyse India's overall trade policy and its impact on domestic industry

India-East Africa Trade Helpdesk

The India - East Africa Trade Helpdesk, in cooperation with Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa, aims to facilitate trade and investment between India and East Africa by creating transparency and predictability. The trade portal gathers market information and requirements from different ITC trade tools needed for Indian and East African companies to export a specific product. Indian and East African companies can select their destination and exporting market, as well as the specific 6-digit HS product code.


Web Link: https://euromed.macmap.org/indiafrica/