Legal Documents

Nepal to discuss trade barriers at IGC meet
The next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) led by the commerce secretaries of Nepal and India is likely to take place in March as both sides are keen to hold it soon. As usual, Nepal will be putting trade barriers at the top of its agenda as it has been facing hurdles in its bilateral and third country trade through Indian territory.  

 

The next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) led by the commerce secretaries of Nepal and India is likely to take place in March as both sides are keen to hold it soon.
As usual, Nepal will be putting trade barriers at the top of its agenda as it has been facing hurdles in its bilateral and third country trade through Indian territory.  

According to the Commerce Ministry, it has started work on the major issues to be discussed at the IGC meeting. Ministry spokesperson Rabi Shankar Sainju said they had been talking with the Indian side to hold the meeting as soon as possible. “However, the date for the meeting has not been fixed as Indian officials are currently occupied with the budget session,” he said.

The IGC was constituted under the Nepal-India trade treaty. Committee meetings provide a platform for resolving various trade related issues and discussing enhancement of bilateral trade. India hosted the last meeting of the IGC in New Delhi from June 28-29, 2016.

As per the ministry, Nepal is likely to focus on the railway service agreement, quarantine check, inter-bank transaction and bulk cargo this time too.

The southern neighbour has long been imposing quantitative restrictions on vegetable ghee, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide and copper products exported from Nepal as they have been included in the trade treaty between the two countries.

Likewise, Nepali exporters have been facing problems in exporting agricultural goods and medicinal products due to the need for certification.

The trade treaty signed between the two countries states that Nepali agricultural products can be exported to India at zero or nominal customs duty. Nepali exporters have been producing phytosanitary certification issued by domestic laboratories, but Nepali products have not been put in the positive list by Indian customs.

India has been imposing countervailing duty on Nepali readymade garments, copper and brass utensils and kattha. Nepal has been unsuccessfully requesting India to remove them at almost every IGC meeting.

Sainju said Nepal had been asking India to adopt a flexible policy with regard to quarantine certification. “We will be urging India to set up an integrated quarantine check system to facilitate exports of Nepali agro products to India,” he added.

Nepal has been operating quarantine labs at major customs points on the Nepal-India border. “However, lack of experts at the quarantine labs is one of the major setbacks that Nepal has been facing in trading agro products,” Sainju said.

Regarding reviewing the railway service agreement, the issue has been stuck on the transshipment modality. Currently, all imports from third countries are required to clear Indian customs in Kolkata, but Nepal has been urging India to allow customs clearance at the nearest border point to help Nepali importers cut costs.

Although India had agreed in principle to simplify the transshipment process, it has not implemented the provision as of date.

Sainju said the ministry had started work to implement the electronic cargo tracking system. “Importers have already started installing the system on a voluntary basis, and the ministry has planned to launch the system as a pilot project soon.”

Similarly, increasing the extent of the bulk cargo system, which means goods being transported in open railway wagons, is another issue that will be discussed at the IGC meeting. At present, India is allowing the bulk cargo system on fertiliser, coal and cement clinker only through the Raxaul-Birgunj gateway among the 22 Nepal-India customs points. 

Around six months ago, Nepal had asked India to allow the bulk cargo system at another three entry points: Jogbani-Biratnagar, Rupaidiya-Nepalgunj and Sunauli-Bhairahawa. “The Indian side said it had started official procedures to review Nepal’s proposal,” the ministry said.

Likewise, Nepal will also be asking India to ease cross-border banking services for traders. At present, Nepali traders cannot transfer more than IRs50,000 via Indian banks. Similarly, they have to go through a lengthy process to open accounts in Indian banks. Sainju said Nepal would be requesting India to ease the compliance requirement to facilitate cross-border banking services for traders

Source: http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-02-14/nepal-to-discuss-trade-barriers-at-igc-meet.html
 


Most Recent News

Title Category Create Time Eng Nep
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence News 2024-07-18 00:00:00.0
Sustainability: Essential to success in the European spice sector News 2024-07-18 00:00:00.0
Germany - Largest apparel market in the European Union News 2024-07-14 00:00:00.0
How the war in Ukraine is affecting international trade and emerging economies News 2024-07-14 00:00:00.0
How digitalisation is shaping the apparel industry News 2024-07-14 00:00:00.0

Search All News

Title Category Eng Nep
मंसिर २३ देखि हस्तकला व्यापार मेला News
Upto 8% Cash Incentives in some of the Potential Export products News
काठमाडौंलाई व्यापारको हब बनाइने News
मुस्ताङको स्याउ बजारमा News
U.S.-Nepal Joint Statement on 3rd Trade and Investment Framework Council Meeting News
UK has come out with The Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) News
Nepal's Export Trade via Rasuwa Border Resumes (Nepali Version) News
China announces zero-tariff treatment for 98% of tariff lines for 16 LDCs News
Rebranding the West News
Services-led growth key to Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development News
Nepali Cargo Rail Access to Calcutta News
'EXIM Code mandatory from Augusut: Deposit amounted reduced to 3 lakhs News
Nepal to have benefit in GSP facilities even after Nepal's LDC graduation News
5 reasons why Europe is great for coffee exporters News
EU-TIP Support to Capacity Building of MSMEs in Trade and Export (Nepali version) News
स्वदेशी उत्पादनलाई ‘कलेक्टिभ ट्रेडमार्ग’ आवश्यक छ : राणा News
Nepalese Chyangra farmers trained to add value to pashmina fibres News
India hands over Jaynagar-Kurtha cross-border rail section News
Minimize Trade Deficit News
Nepal-China trade: free trade feasibility study on the cards News
Kerung is now an international border point News
Germany - Largest apparel market in the European Union News
Bangladesh permits Nepal's yarn export via Banglabandha Dry Port (Nepali Version) News
China agrees to open market for Nepalese tea News
ITC partners with national private and public stakeholders and the World Bank to establish a Nepali value chain for the Pashmina sector. News
Revolving fund of Rs 10 million set up for agriculture and education News
Minimize trade deficit News
Department of Customs and the Trade and Export Promotion Centre sign Memorandum of Understanding News
How the war in Ukraine is affecting international trade and emerging economies News
Export of Rs. 80 Billion in 6 months of fiscal year 2079/80 (Nepali) News
प्लास्टिकका फूलहरूको उत्पादन र आयातमा रोक, अबको विकल्प के? News
Training of Trainers (TOT) on Nepali products designs as per Demand in the International Market News
Policymakers voice for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation News
Nepal-China trade set to surge with Tatopani Customs re-opening News
Consultation meeting on Trade Policy Review held News
It is important to increase the role of TEPC News
How digitalisation is shaping the apparel industry News
नेपाली चिया अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय प्रतिस्पर्धामा अब्बल News
निकासी प्रवर्द्धन सम्बन्धी छलफल तथा अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न News
Export opportunities emerge as Nepal prepares move beyond LDC status News
Kiwi fruit saplings being exported to Bhutan News
Cargo tracking system will be implemented soon : Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies News
Foreign Trade Statistics of Nepal [First two months (Shrawan-Bhadra) of Fiscal Year 2074-75] News
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence News
Nepal's trade is now surplus in US market News
India to grant Nepal access to two key ports in Gujarat & Odisha under trade, transit treaties News
Root cause analysis addresses non-tariff measures in Central Europe News
कफी खाने बढे, सरकारले ध्यान दिए अर्थतन्त्रको खम्बा बन्नसक्छ News
The problem of trade and transit between Nepal and India will be resolved. News
Nepal to discuss trade barriers at IGC meet News
Sustainability: Essential to success in the European spice sector News
१७ करोड बराबरको नेपाली सिमेन्ट भारतमा निर्यात News
UK's New trading scheme cuts tariffs on hundreds of everyday products News
राष्ट्रवादी नाराले हुँदैन, उपभोक्ता र व्यापार सन्तुलनका लागि सस्तो वस्तु आयात गरेर महँगो वस्तु निर्यात गर्ने हो : सरद बिक्रम राणा [अन्तर्वार्ता] News
EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Project News
सुनको मूल्य तोलाको एक लाख नजिक News
President Obama Signs Nepal Trade Preferences Bill News
Millions of rupees of tax evasion in carpet industry revenue News
Nepali EPG urges new peace, friendship treaty with India News
MoC launches updated NTIS 2016 News
ऊनी फेल्टका झोला निर्यात News
भन्सार दर तथा अन्तशूल्कको दर हेरफेर News
Nepal: Coffee Export Guides, Market Access Map and Quality for Trade Platform launched News
President Obama Signs Proclamation to Implement Nepal Preference Program News
Int'l Women's Trade Expo concludes on a high note News
Nepal-India ICG meeting will be focused on trade facilitation News
Minister Yadav directed the ministry to make Birjgunj ICP ready for inauguration in 3 days. News
Govt fixes support price for coffee News
सिमेन्ट र क्लिंकरको निर्यात बढ्यो News
वार्षिक निर्यात ५० करोडभन्दा बढी भए थप सुविधा कार्तिक 3, वुधवार News
ADB forecasts modest economic growth News
Govt targets 4% GDP contribution from NTIS products News
Production of seven provinces in a single sales center News
Cardamom insurance, compensation if plant dies News
Honorable Minister for Industry, Commerce & Supplies Ramesh Rijal's visited TEPC News
केही वस्तुको आयातमा प्रतिबन्धको निरन्तरता News
लगानी प्रवद्र्धन केन्द्रित नीति बनाउन सुझाव News
Nepali VP sees huge market in China for Nepali products News
Discussion on Trade facilitation News
From now 'output- based' on grants only News
Registration into GACC for Exporting to China News
Nepal participated in the first International Planning Meeting ahead of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. News
वित्तीय क्षेत्र सुदृढीकरण गर्न विश्व बैंकको १८ अर्ब ऋण सहयोग News
Economic growth rate of Province-2 is 3.5 percent News
ECTS system in Nepali cargo coming to Kolkata port. News
DoC introduces ExIm code for traders News
Nepal-USA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Meeting News
Narrowing gap on Trade Deficit due to Import Restriction (in Nepali) News
राष्ट्रिय सम्पत्तिको मूल्यांकनमा जोड News
Cereal crop production up, vegetable production down in Karnali News
Commerce and Trade Agreement will be reviewed News
Insurance designed to make cardamom farming commercial News
Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Kathmandu visited Trade and Export Promotion Centre News
व्यापार घाटा झन्डै १६ प्रतिशतले घट्यो। News
भन्सार एजेन्टको परिक्षामा उत्तिर्ण भएकाहरुलाई ईजाजतपत्र News
इन्डोनेसियाको निर्यात प्रतिबन्धले नेपालमा असर News
Government and World Bank complete annual review of portfolio performance News
Prime Minister's China Visit: Agreement on three ports News
The process of building dry port in Chobar has started. News
मुस्ताङबाट ५० करोडको स्याउ निकासी News
जनप्रशासन संघ एवं व्यापार तथा निकासी प्रवर्द्धन केन्द्र बिच अन्तरकृया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न News
Nepal participated in Biofach Trade Fair 2022 in Nuremberg, Germany. News
चियाले विदेशी मुद्रा भित्र्याएको दाबी News
Around 50,000 he-goats, sheep to be brought in Valley for Dashain News
Railway agreement between Nepal and India News
TIFA meeting after 6 years: US interest to increase export of Nepali products. News
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) visited Trade and Export Promotion Centre News
जर्मनीका व्यापार मेलाहरुबारे छलफल सम्पन्न News