India &
World Trade Organization (WTO)
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Trade
Facilitation
Trade Facilitation is the only
subject from the bundle of four Singapore issues on
which negotiation had started pursuant to the WTO’s
July Framework Agreement of 2004. The modalities for
negotiation are set out in Annex D of the July
Framework Agreement. There are three identified aims
of negotiation under Annex D: (i) To clarify and
improve relevant aspects of GATT Articles V (Freedom
of Transit), VIII (Fees and Formalities connected
with Importation and Exportation) and X (Publication
and Administration of Trade Regulations); (ii)
Enhance technical assistance and support for
capacity building in this area; (iii) To have
provision for effective cooperation between Customs
authorities on trade facilitation and Customs
compliance issues.
2. India’s participation in the
negotiations has been positive and constructive. In
the ongoing negotiation, Members have already
submitted a large number of proposals for
clarification of GATT Articles V, VIII & X. India
has filed a detailed proposal on how a multilateral
cooperation mechanism would operate (W/68) which has
been co-sponsored by Sri Lanka. Pursuant to the
proposal submitted by India under document W/68 on
Co-operation Mechanism for Customs Compliance,
another paper (TN/TF/W/103 dated 10 May, 2006) has
been filed by India containing specific elements for
multilateral cooperation mechanism for exchange of
information between customs administrations of
Members. Later India has filed its textual proposal
(TN/TF/W/123 dated 4 July, 2006) on Cooperation
Mechanism for Customs Compliance which has also been
co-sponsored by Sri Lanka.
3. India has also presented its
own proposals (TN/TF/W/77 dated 10th February,
2006 and TN/TF/W/78 dated 13th February, 2006) for
clarification of the existing provisions of GATT
Article VIII and Article X. India has subsequently
filed textual proposals - TN/TF/W/121 and TN/TF/W/122,
both dated 4th July, 2006.
4. Negotiations are also looking
at the aspect of technical and financial assistance
for capacity building in developing countries. A
proposal (TN/TF/W/82 dated 31 March, 2006) has been
jointly filed by the People’s Republic of China,
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This paper addresses
the concerns of the developing countries such as (i)
the arrangement of commitments for developing
Members, (ii) the provision of technical assistance
and capacity building support; and (iii) the
applicability of the dispute settlement mechanism.
5. The Hong Kong Ministerial
Declaration on Trade Facilitation is a good basis
for further negotiations on this subject.
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Trade
