India to settle WTO import duty dispute with EU

New Delhi: India seeks to resolve a WTO import duty dispute with the European Union (EU) on certain information and technology (IT) products through the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), which is under active negotiations, an official said. Following a ruling of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) dispute panel on April 17 that import duties imposed by India on certain information and technology (ICT) products such as mobile phones and components, base stations, integrated circuits and optical instruments violate global trading norms, India and the European Union (EU) are discussing ways to resolve the matter amicably outside the ambit of the WTO.

As part of the discussion, the EU has sought duty concessions from India on these goods as it was violative of the global trade norms, but India has stated that it would be again a breach of WTO rules, if the concessions be extended only to the EU, the official said. “They are seeking duty concessions, which according to India can be discussed only under the free trade agreement (FTA). India can consider something under the FTA, but not on MFN (most favoured nation) basis,” the official added.