Reply: The agreement with Canada shall cover trade in goods and service and investments.
No. India is not looking to negotiate labour and environment provisions with Canada.
40. The commitment to notify Domestic Support to the Committee on Agriculture requires that it should be done within 90 days after the end of the calendar year. By what date India plans to catch up with its commitments on WTO notification on Agriculture for the years 2005 to 2010? (Page 30, paragraph 17 and page 156, paragraph 32)
Reply: India's notification to the WTO, G/AG/N/IND/7 dated 9 June 2011, covered the backlog for the period 1998 99 to 2003 04. Work is underway on India's notifications for the subsequent years.
41. Could India indicate what are the companies/societies called "Nidhi"? (Page 38, Table II.8)
Reply: It is a company registered under Companies Act and notified as a nidhi company by Central Government under Section 620 A of Companies Act. These companies essentially carry on the business of lending and borrowing (accepting deposits and making loans) with their members or shareholders.
42. It is mentioned that individual tariff rates may be amended during the year. On average, how many changes are made each year? Is there a limit to the number of annual changes that can be done? (Page 40, paragraph 2)
Reply: The existing tariff rates have been fairly stable and rate changes have not been frequent. Since the Central Government is empowered to exempt any goods from customs duty in public interest, there is no limit on the number of annual changes that can be made. Typically, changes are made annually at the time of presentation of the Budget.
43. Which commodities are subject to price controls? How often are these prices charged and where are these published? (Page 41, paragraph 5)
Reply: There are 74 drugs specified as scheduled drugs under Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO, 1995). Prices of medicines containing any of these 74 drugs individually or in combination are fixed/revised under the provisions of said order. The prices so fixed are notified in the Official Gazette.
