Lok Sabha Question No. 2496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Setting up of Joint Panel for Trade Issues
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI, C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## SETTING UP OF JOINT PANEL FOR TRADE ISSUES

## 2496. DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU: SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether India and China have set up a Joint Panel to sort out trade related issues and if so, the details thereof along with the composition of this Joint Panel;
- b) whether this Panel has discussed the trade related issues and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which they are likely to be sorted out; and
- c) the other steps taken by the Indian Government to improve market access for Indian products to China?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )श्रीमती निममला सीतारमि((स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. India and China have not set up any Joint Panel to sort out trade related  issues,  but  have,  however,  established  a  Joint  Economic  Group  on  Economic Relations and Trade, Science and Technology (JEG) in 1988. The JEG is a ministeriallevel dialogue mechanism to address issues on bilateral trade and economic co-operation between the two countries. The JEG has met ten times so far and the last meeting of the JEG (10 th JEG ) was held on 2 nd September 2014, in Beijing. The following trade related issues were discussed during the 10 th  JEG meeting: Trade imbalance, Market Access of Indian  Agricultural  products  such  as  Oil  Meals  &  Cake,  Tobacco,  Rice,  Fruits  & Vegetables  etc.;  Deepening  Bilateral  Trade  Cooperation  in  Sectors like Textiles, Handmade Carpets,  Diamonds,  Oil  Seeds  &  Sesame  Seeds,  Casein;  Issues  relating  to export of Pharma products, Cooperation and Market Access in Information Technology (IT) & Information Technology Enabled Services  ( ITES), Import of Indian Films etc.

India has been using all platforms for engagements with China to improve market access for Indian products in China. (c):  India  and  China  have  also  jointly  developed  and  signed  in  September  2014,    the Five-Year Development Program for Economic and Trade Cooperation in order to lay down a medium term roadmap for promoting balanced and sustainable development of economic  and  trade  relations  between  two  countries,  on  the  principle  of  equality  and mutual benefit. During the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister to China in May 2015, both sides agreed to its supervision including registration, speedier phytosanitary negotiations on agro-products for two-way trade,  stronger  links  between  Indian  IT  companies  and  Chinese  enterprises,  and take joint measures  to alleviate the skewed  bilateral trade so as to realize sustainability. Such measures include cooperation on pharmaceutical increasing services trade in tourism, films, healthcare, IT and logistics.

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