Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249):pg xi, para 12:
New Zealand welcomes India's ongoing unilateral reductions in tariffs. The report notes that the average tariff line for WTO agricultural products is 33.3%, which is significantly higher than its average for WTO non agricultural productions (8.9%). While the report also states India considers it necessary to apply higher tariffs to agricultural products due to the strategic importance of the sector, does India plan further unilateral tariff reductions in the agricultural sector in the longer term to align them more closely to non agricultural products?
Reply: Food security and livelihood security are primary considerations for India. India has unilaterally reduced its applied tariffs on many agricultural items from time to time. India also undertakes temporary tariff reductions on a case to case basis whenever the domestic production of essential commodities falls significantly on account of drought or other natural calamities.
New Zealand 2:
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249): pg 44, para 29: Non ad valorem rates apply to 690 tariff lines, of which five are specific rates, while 685 are alternate rates affecting textiles and clothing. The report notes that the use of specific rates can increase considerably protection for certain products, in some cases to around 600%. Is India considering changing non ad valorem tariffs to ad valorem in the interests of greater transparency?
