APTMA wants India to remove non-tariff barriers boost bilateral trade

In order to boost bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) chairman Yasin Siddique has urged the Indian authorities to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) . Yasin, while speaking to visiting Indian journalists at APTMA house said, "We are in favour of promotion of trade with regional countries, especially with our neighbours to ensure peace, prosperity and economic revival".

He wanted India to open its market to Pakistani goods to normalise bilateral trade and capitalise on the potential for joint business strategies, particularly in the textile sector. "We believe that NTBs are the major hurdle in promotion of trade between the two countries, therefore India should remove these barriers in order to accelerate bilateral trade," he added.

Pakistan has always supported granting of MFN status to India, however, the existing non-tariff barriers were hindering smooth flow of trade between the two countries. He urged India to remove NTBs to make MFN status a success.

As per statistics, trade between the two countries was US$1.4 billion in 2009-10. Of this, Indian exports to Pakistan fell to US$1.2 billion, while Pakistan’s exports to India were a meagre US$268 million. These trade figures clearly reflect that India had not opened its market for Pakistani goods and trade balance was still in favour of India.

The APTMA chairman suggested that Pakistan and India should harmonise their customs procedures for assessing in compliance with safety and quarantine standards. In this regard, special quarantine centres and laboratories should be established at border crossings, he added. He also asked Pakistani policymakers to take up the issue of non-tariff barriers with their Indian counterparts to ensure a level playing field for both sides.

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