Non Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) relates to trade negotiations on non-agricultural or industrial products. In the NAMA negotiations, WTO Members discuss the terms or modalities for reducing or eliminating customs tariff and non tariff barriers on trade in industrial products.
The product coverage under NAMA includes marine products, chemicals, rubber products, wood products, textiles and clothing, leather, ceramics, glassware, engineering products, electronics, automobiles, instruments, sports goods and toys.
On tariffs, the negotiations take place on the bound tariff which are the bindings taken during the negotiations at the WTO. The bound tariffs are the upper limit of the applied customs tariff which are the tariffs actually applied by the Customs authorities on imports into any country.
In the NAMA negotiations there are tariffs on which no bindings have been taken and these are known as the unbound tariff lines. Based on the commitments taken by India, at the commencement of the Doha Round in 2001, India has more than 31% of it NAMA tariff lines as unbound.
SEZ
India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia's first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. With a view to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.
The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, was passed by Parliament in May, 2005 which received Presidential assent on the 23rd of June, 2005.
After extensive consultations, the SEZ Act, 2005, supported by SEZ Rules, came into effect on 10th February, 2006, providing for drastic simplification of procedures and for single window clearance on matters relating to central as well as state governments.
The main objectives of the SEZ Act are:
(a) generation of additional economic activity
(b) promotion of exports of goods and services;
(c) promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources;
(d) creation of employment opportunities;
(e) development of infrastructure facilities;
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi :
The IIFT, registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 as Society, is headed by the Director General. The Institute became functional on 1st April, 1964. It is engaged in the following activities:
· Training of personnel in modern techniques of international trade;
· Conducting Market research in problems of foreign trade;
· Organisation of marketing research, area surveys, commodity surveys, market surveys; and
· Dissemination of information arising from its activities relating to research and market studies.
The IIFT has been accorded the "Deemed To Be University" status by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the University Grants Commission(UGC) with effect from 20th May, 2002
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), New Delhi, is the premier trade promotion agency of India and provides a broad spectrum of services to trade and industry so as to promote export. With Headquarters at Pragati Maidan, a modern exhibition complex spread over 150 acres in New Delhi and regional offices at Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, ITPO ensures a representative participation of trade and industry from different regions of the country at its events in India and abroad
Export Promotion Councils :
There are at present twelve Export Promotion Councils under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce and nine export promotion councils related to textile sector under the administrative control of Ministry of Textiles. These Councils are registered as non -profit organisations under the Companies Act/Societies Registration Act. The Export Promotion Councils perform both advisory and executive functions. These Councils are also the registering authorities under the Export Import Policy, 1997-2002.These Councils have been assigned the role and functions under the said Policy.
The Committee constituted to look into the aspects of rationalization of election procedure of the Export Promotion Councils(EPCs) and the criteria to be adopted for their restructuring so that they retain their relevance to the national export effort in the context of globlisation and economic liberalization, has made recommendations to streamline and strengthening the functioning of the EPCs. The Government has since accepted the recommendations of the Committee and issued Model Bye-Laws and guidelines to all EPCs for adoption.