India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members

India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members

India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members

India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members
India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members

Note4students

Mains Paper 2: IR | Bilateral, regional & global groupings & agreements involving India &/or affecting India’s interests

 

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), FTA & PTA

Mains level: India’s trade regime with LDC’s

News

More liberal policy for APTA members

  1. India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) members, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, from July 1
  2. These duty concessions will be more for least developed countries (LDCs) and less for developing nations

Difference between FTA & PTA

  1. Under a free trade agreement, countries cut or eliminate duties on the most number of goods traded between them besides liberalizing norms to promote services trade and investments
  2. But under a Preferential Trade Agreement, duties are eliminated on a certain number of identified items

Back2Basics

Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)

  1. APTA is an initiative under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) for trade expansion through exchange of tariff concessions among developing country members of the Asia Pacific Region
  2. It is a preferential trade agreement (PTA), under which the basket of items, as well as extent of tariff concessions, are enlarged during the trade negotiating rounds which are launched from time to time
  3. The six member countries are Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Korea and Sri Lanka
  4. It is in place since 1975

Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), previously known as the Bangkok Agreement[1] and renamed 2 November 2005, was signed in 1975. It is the oldest preferential trade agreement between countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Seven Participating States- Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Mongolia,Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka are the parties to the APTA. The APTA pact does occupy market for 2921.2 million people [2] and the size of this big market accounts US$14615.86 billion in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-2016.APTA’s key objective is to hasten economic development among the seven participating states opting trade and investment liberalization measures that will contribute to intra-regional trade and economic strengthening through the coverage of merchandise goods and services, synchronized investment regime and free flow of technology transfer making all the Participating States to be in equally winsome situation Its aim is to promote economic development and cooperation through the adoption of trade liberalization measures. APTA is open to all members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which serves as the APTA Secretariat. Members of APTA are currently participating in the Fourth Round of Tariff Concessions, which are expected to conclude in October 2009.

Member nations

Negotiations

Exchange of Tariff Concessions

The Third Round, entering into force on 1 September 2006, led to tariff concessions on more than 4,000 items.

The Fourth Round, launched in October 2007, was scheduled to be concluded by the Third Ministerial Council in October 2009. This Round aims to widen the coverage of preferences to at least 50 per cent of the number of tariff lines of each member, and at least 20-25 per cent the value of bilateral trade. It also aims to provide a tariff concession of at least 50 per cent (on average).

Framework Agreement

The Fourth Round of negotiations is extending into areas beyond the traditional tariff concessions in order to deepen trade cooperation and integration. APTA members are currently negotiating three framework agreements on trade facilitation, trade in services, and investments. In addition, APTA members are exchanging information on non-tariff measures.

Institutional arrangements

  • Ministerial Council: The Ministerial Council represents the highest decision-making authority. It provides overall policy direction for the future negotiating agenda of the Agreement, as well as supervision and coordination of the implementation of the Agreement. The Council meets at least once every two years, with the First Session held on 2 November 2005 in Beijing, China, and the Second Session held on 26 October 2007 in Goa, India. The Third Session will be held on 22 October 2009 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Standing Committee: APTA is administered by a Standing Committee. Each Participating State designates a national focal point and an alternate focal point responsible for handling this duty.
  • Secretariat: The Trade and Investment Division of UNESCAP functions as APTA’s Secretariat.

See also

Other trade agreements and organizations in the Asia–Pacific region