WTO rules impeding growth of regional trading blocs
New Delhi: While regional trading arrangements (RTAs) cover both goods and services, New Delhi has so far entered into such arrangements involving exchange of tariff preferences on goods only, such as the Bangkok agreement and Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) preferential trading agreement (Sapta). Establishment of a free-trade area (FTA) or customs union violates the principle of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment embodied in the WTO rules, though special exceptions have been provided, say commerce ministry officials. They explain RTAs in the extreme may also liberalise “substantially all trade” with issues stretching well beyond the traditional tariff elimination approach to areas such as standards, services, intellectual property and competition. In all, more than 200 RTAs have been notified to the Gatt or WTO and currently over 130 agreements are in force. Since 1995, as many as 90 agreements covering trade in goods or services or both have been notified to the world trade regulator.
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Traces ff beef, donkey & horse meat found in imported items
New Delhi: A study prepared by the Centre for International Trade in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries (CITA) has brought to light evidences of beef products being imported into the country and openly sold despite the existing ban. The study also says there is a possibility of imported meat products containing traces of beef, donkey and horse meat. The country imports only a nominal amount of meat products. Most of the imported meat products come in packaged form and are available in supermarkets in the metros and other major cities. The CITA, which has done a survey of some supermarkets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune, has found imported beef products being freely sold. Executive director, CITA, Vijay Sardana said, “imported beef products of Nestle, based in South Africa, was found on shelfs of supermarket stores in Mumbai and Pune. There were other beef products of different multinational companies being sold in different cities.” He says imported meat products may also contain traces of beef, horse or even donkey meat.
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IIP records 4.9 per cent growth in April
New Delhi: The index of industrial production (IIP) recorded a growth of 4.9 per cent in April compared to a 4.1 per cent growth in the same period last year. The manufacturing sector grew by 5 per cent during the month against 4 per cent posted in April 2002. While the mining sector registered a high growth of 8.3 per cent in April compared to 3.6 per cent during April 2002, the electricity sector recorded a sluggish growth of 1.9 per cent against 5.2 per cent in April 2002. In the use-based sector, capital goods shot up by 9 per cent in April compared to a negative 0.6 per cent growth posted in April last year. Intermediate goods grew by 4.1 per cent during April compared to 0.1 per cent growth in April 2002. A growth of 3.9 per cent was registered by the basic goods sector which grew by a higher rate of 4.7 per cent in April 2002. The consumer goods sector too recorded a lower growth of 5.8 per cent in April compared to a growth of 8.9 per cent posted in April 2002. Consumer durables registered a negative growth of 2.2 per cent in April compared to 3.6 per cent recorded in the same month of the previous fiscal. Consumer non-durables, on the other hand, grew by 8.3 per cent in the month compared to 10.7 per cent in April 2002.
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Ministry wants govt aid for Vallarpadam terminal
New Delhi: The shipping ministry has send a proposal to the Planning Commission seeking government support for carrying out dredging works, and port and railway connectivity for the proposed Rs 2,118-crore Vallarpadam container terminal off Kochi.

Sources said the Kochi Port Trust would be finalising a contract agreement with bidders by the month-end after which the port trust will call for financial offers from the shortlisted companies. “The bidders will be asked to submit their financial offers by mid-September,” said a senior port official. CSX World Terminal of Britain and the Denmark-based Maersk, part of the AP Moller group, are in race for the management of the existing Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) and construction of a new terminal on the Vallarpadam island off Kochi.
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States asked to begin work on all projects
New Delhi: The Centre has asked public sector power companies and states to commence work on all generation projects in order to meet the Tenth Plan target of 41,000 mw. The country was able to add just 7 per cent of the targeted power generation capacity during the Ninth Plan. Addressing the state power ministers on Thursday, power minister Anant Geete said work on projects, which had not yet taken off, must start within few months. The conference had been called for taking stock of generation capacity especially in view of the fact that less than 50 per cent of the Ninth Plan target was achieved. Stating that the financial health of almost all state electricity boards was a matter of concern, he said states should make use of schemes like Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme.
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