Report by the Secretariat: IV. Trade policies by selected sector: (2) Agriculture: (ii) Agricultural policy objectives: (a) Measures affecting imports: Para. 20:
The Secretariat's report shows that India links the use of export restriction and export licensing as well as other non tariff measures (NTMs) to domestic policies, for example by relaxing NTMs when imports are desired. It seems that these measures are rather unpredictable due to numerous changes in short frequency. What is the reasoning behind this practice, bearing in mind the costs, risks and lack of predictability for national and international actors on the market? Does India envisage de coupling NTMs from domestic policy objectives?
Reply: The NTMs are maintained to fulfil the legitimate concerns in terms of Article XX of GATT, TBT and SPS. The changes in NTMs on a given item are not made as frequently as projected in the report.
