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Published by the Press, Information & Culture Wing, Embassy of India |
In this Issue Opinion
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INDIA REGISTERS PROTEST AGAINST US SANCTIONS AT WTO
GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
India registered its protest against
the imposition of export restrictions by the United States of America vis-a-vis India, in
the meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council held in Geneva today.
The statement highlighted that the imposition of export restrictions was violative of US
obligations under the WTO, particularly Article I, XI and XIII of GATT 1994. It was also
pointed out that such recourse to unilateral action by developed countries would make
multilateral trade disciplines and rules increasingly irrelevant. The text of the
statement is as follows:
"The Bureau of Export Administration of the US Department of Commerce had notified on 19.11.1998, 40 Indian entities and 200 subordinate entities which will be covered by exports sanctions. These entities are not eligible to receive exports or re-exports of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, without a license. It is India’s view that the restrictions imposed by the United States are without justification. It represents an attempt to deny technology and products to Indian companies and educational and research institutions. The entities targeted include such institutions as the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai; Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar; Indian Institutes of Technology, and a range of public sector and private sector companies, including Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers, which is primarily concerned with fertilizer production. The imposition of export restrictions is not only unjustified, it is also, in our view, violative of US obligations under WTO, particularly Articles I, XI, XII of GATT 1994. India expresses its deep concern at this development. Unilateral action by Members cuts at the very root of the multilateral trading system. India notes with regret the fact that some developed countries have been taking recourse to unilateral action in various situations, thus making multilateral trade disciplines and rules increasingly irrelevant. It is important that the entire membership of the WTO takes cognizance of this unfortunate trend and devise measures to combat it before the organization itself is threatened. We would also urge all Members to restrain themselves from taking such unilateral actions in the interests of disciplined and orderly global trade. The time has now for the General Council and the Ministerial Conference to act with determination against all unilateral actions. |
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