INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The government is devising a plan to boost shipments of around 200 products to China and narrow the deficit with India's biggest trading
partner, a person with knowledge of the matter said.The plan includes seeking duty waiver on a raft of products under the Asia Pacific Trade
uncombed single cotton apart from castor oil, menthol, granite, diamonds and glass envelopes for picture tubes when negotiations for
expansion come up in April 2019.An analysis by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration shows that Southeast Asian nations,
Australia, and South Korea among others have competitive advantage over India due to free trade agreements with China
In marine products, especially frozen shrimps and prawns, India loses its competitive advantage due to tariffs while shipments from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations are allowed duty free.APTA, established in 1975, seeks to create a liberal trading regime between
Bangladesh, India, Laos, Korea and Sri Lanka and China
Apart from seeking tariff concessions, the ongoing United States and China trade conflict also presents an opportunity to cut down the
$56-billion trade gap it runs with China, the person said.Export CompetitivenessA commerce ministry spokeswoman didn't immediately respond
to two phone calls to her mobile phone
China's Ministry of Commerce didn't immediately respond to a fax, seeking comments.But trade experts feel that it is not tariff concession
alone that will help India, which lags many of its southeast Asian peers in competitiveness
Also, India shouldn't lose focus on other trade pacts that are being negotiated including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in
its bid to boost exports to China."While APTA may be a good idea to pursue, RCEP is a complete package as it would give access to Japan,
Australia and other markets too apart from China," Amitendu Palit, a senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies,
National University of Singapore, said by phone
"Difference in competitiveness level and non-tariff barriers imposed by China is a major problem for India."India has dragged its feet as
RCEP doesn't provide for free movement of skilled workers, a key concern for Delhi given its large pool of tech workers, even as it opens
its market to a clutch of nations known for their manufacturing prowess
It is facing pressure from member nations -- including Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea -- to conclude talks by end of
