Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the government has set up a task force under the Department of Commerce to identify, categorise and develop tailored strategies for the resolution of non-tariff barriers. He said such barriers include prior registration requirements in the exporting country, cumbersome testing and certification requirements and unreasonable domestic standards/rules. Different countries enforce various regulatory measures to ensure the safety and quality of the products placed in their territory. These measures apply equally to domestic manufacturers and importers.
However, the minister said such measures may sometimes act as trade barriers due to various reasons like gaps in the regulatory frameworks and quality compliance requirements of the trade partners, lack of transparency, arbitrariness or differing interpretation of the rules, and improper implementation.
He further said the resolution of trade barriers, including ensuring increased and effective market access, is a continuous process and endeavour. He noted that India also engages in regulatory cooperation to help ensure that global rules governing the regulatory structures are favourable and consistent.
