Textile quota row: US, EU Bank on LDCs to check India
New Delhi: With 18 months left for complete phase-out of textile quotas on January 1, 2005, moves are afoot in industrialised countries, especially the US and the European Union (EU), to ‘prop’ up least developed countries (LDCs) as effective competitors to both India and China, say latest reports reaching the commerce and textiles ministries. Going by the reports, US and EU are also likely to extend preferential treatment to a large number of textile suppliers and concessions to LDCs in a determined bid to protect their local industry. A broad indication of these moves was available at the recent seminar on the future of global textile industry after 2004 held in Brussels. The EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy who spoke on the occasion categorically ruled out extension of quotas beyond December 31, 2004 while other participants expressed concern over the impact of the phase-out of quotas on LDCs. According to WTO expert on textile matters, DK Nair, both the US and EU are ‘artificially’ trying to protect their local industry by operating peak tariffs and offering duty-free access to suppliers covered by regional and preferential trade agreements.
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Process of sugar export release order simplified
New Delhi: The centre has simplified the application process for exporters seeking release orders for sugar exports. With a view to reducing the processing period, such approvals will now be given at the level of the chief sugar director. At present, the government issues periodic release orders for offloading of sugar by mills for meeting domestic requirements and exports.
As per a new notification, exporters are now required to submit IEC Code number, PAN number and any proof of booked orders for exports alongwith a copy of the letter of credit for grant of the release order. The validity period of the release order would be 60 days, over which an extension period of 30 days will be allowed if the release is not exported within the timeframe. The request for extension of validity period would, however, be considered only in exceptional cases and would require documentary proof of non-export of sugar within the original timeframe.
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