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WTO: India to submit market access proposals

India is planning to submit certain proposals to the World Trade Organisation regarding market access for non-agricultural products shortly, Minister of State for Commerce Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Friday.

Though no time limit has been fixed by the WTO for elimination of all tariffs by all countries, negotiations on non-agricultural market access, commonly referred to as industrial tariff, are scheduled to be completed by January 1, 2005, he told Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

The United States and several other countries have submitted proposals in this regard, with Washington suggesting a phased process of developed countries to arrive at a zero duty regime by 2015, he said.

While seeking a "radical initiative" for elimination of all tariff by 2015, India in its initial reaction to the US proposal has pointed towards the absence of any provision in the proposal with regard to special and differential treatment for developing countries, Rudy said.

He said a number of other developing nations have also indicated difficulties with regard to the US proposal.

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