OECD Workshop
On
Regional Trade & Environment
Tokyo, Japan
June 19, 2007
By:
Ms. Kusum Mishra, Deputy Economic Adviser
Ministry of Environment & Forests
New Delhi – 110003, India
E-mail: kusummishra@nic.in
Indian Economy : Fast Paced
• Average GDP Growth of 8.5% in the
past 3 Years.
– Average Annual growth for Agriculture at
2.9%
– Average growth for Industrial Sector at
9.8%
– Services Sector average growth at 10.2%
GDP Growth for 2007-08 is projected at 9%
Trade : A Growth Engine
• Major economic reforms introduced in the
early 1990’s.
• Since then foreign trade has grown steadily
and emerged as a critical sector for achieving
higher growth.
• India’s trade volume jumped from US$ 42
billion in 1990-91 to US$ 221 billion in 20052006, translating into an average annual
growth of 28.4%.
– Export Volume in 2005-06 at US$90 billion
– Import Volume in 2005-06 at US$131 billion
Regional Trading Arrangements – Approach/1
• India views Regional Trading Arrangements
(RTAs) as ‘building blocks" for trade
liberalization and multilateral trading system.
• India has come out from a guarded approach
to regionalism for enhancing trade.
• In principle Agreements/Free Trade
Agreements with Major Trading Partners /
Blocks in goods, services & investments.
• Framework agreements with a number of
trading partners with specific road maps
within specified time frames.
Regional Trading Arrangements – Approach/2
• Joint Study Groups set up for examining
feasibility of CECA between India-Japan, IndiaIndonesia, India-Brazil-South Africa and IndiaRussia.
• India and European Commission set up a High
Level Trade Groups (HLTG) as mandated by the
India-EU Summit held in New Delhi on
September 7, 2005.
• HLTG mandated to explore ways to enhance
bilateral economic co-operation including a
comprehensive trade & investment agreement.
• The 7th India EU Summit held in Helsinki in
October, 2006 accepted HLTG’s report.
Current Engagements to RTAs/1
• Agreement on South Asia Free Trade Area
(SAFTA)
• Agreement on India-Bhutan Trade & Commerce
• India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
• Trade Agreement between India – Bangladesh &
India & Maldives
• India-Nepal Treaty of Trade
• Indian–Afghanistan Preferential Trade Agreement
• India-MERCOSUR PTA
• Joint Study Group between India and Russia
• Negotiation between India-Korea & India-Japan
• RTA Negotiation between India-China
• Framework agreement on CEC, India-ASEAN
Current Engagements to RTAs/2
• India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement
• Framework Agreement for establishment Free Trade
between India and Thailand
• Joint Study Group for Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement between and Malaysia
• Joint Study Group for Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement between India and
Indonesia
• Free Trade Agreement between Indian and Gulf
Cooperation Council
• Israel-India Joint Study Group and Implementation of
its recommendations
• PTA/CECP Agreement between India and Mauritius
Current Engagements to RTAs/3
• PTA/CECP Agreement between India and
Mauritius
• Frame Work Agreement with South Africa
Customs Union
• Asia Pacific Trade Agreement
• Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi - Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
• Global System of Preferences
• Generalized System of Preferences
• India-EU High Level Trade Group
Environmental Initiatives
• India views that trade and environment
should be mutually supportive with the
objective of Sustainable Development.
• One of the strongest proponents of MEAs
and is party to all the major MEAs.
Commitment to Sustainable Development/1
• Beginning was made with the preparation for the
Stockholm Conference on Human Development
1972.
• Helped to prioritise environmental protection and
conservation of natural resources within the
country.
• In the following two decades India developed
organizational structure and effected major
environmental legislation.
• UN Conference on Environment & Development at
Rio in 1992 infused the concept of sustainable
development with country specific programs.
• In 1992 India released the National Conservation
Strategy and Policy Statement on the Abatement of
Pollution.
Commitment to Sustainable Development/2
• In 2002, India reaffirmed its commitment to
sustainable development in the World Summit on
Sustainable Development at Johannesburg.
• Decade of 1990s has seen spurt of new
environmental laws / amendments of older ones.
• Govt. guidelines for production process certificates to
ensure environmentally sound production and
management practices for export goods. (WTO
environment provisions-Agreement on Technical
Barriers to Trade).
• Being a signatory to the 1992 CBD, India recognises
the significance of traditional knowledge in
biodiversity held by indigenous local communities.
• The WTO agreement on TRIPS encouraged
compilation of data on other materials in machinereadable form to constitute intellectual creations for
protection (TRIPs 10)
International Agreements & Conventions
• India participated in major international events on
environment since 1972.
• Signed and ratified a number of key multilateral agreements
on environment issues in recognition of the trans-boundary
nature of several environmental problems.
• Efforts made to network and enhance environmental cooperation by participating in regional and bilateral programs.
• Bilateral MOUs / Agreements with 12 countries.
• JWGs on environment set up with EU, Finland, UK: and
being set up with Norway
• MOU with US EPA renewed
• MoEF makes annual contributions to UNEP, ICIMOD,
SACEP, UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD, Basel Convention,
Rotterdam Convention, Montreal Protocol, Vienna
Convention etc.
• Need to enhance our own capacity to comply with
commitments.
• Ministry’s delegates participate in important international
meetings on environment & provide valuable inputs.
Recommendations of the Steering Committee
for 11th Plan (2007-12)/1
• Initiatives to integrate the global environmental
agreements with efforts at the national level.
• Need to assess the priorities of different international
conventions and our strategies for the future.
1. Basel Convention
 An action plan for efficient, cost effective recycling
and disposal strategy for electrical and electronic
waste be drawn up.
 Recommendations of the Expert Committee Report
on ship-breaking to be implemented.
 Basel ban and Basel Protocol be studied for
ratification.
 Amendments to exclude recyclables from the
Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling)
Rules, 1989, amended 2000, 2003.
Recommendations of the Steering Committee
for 11th Plan (2007-12)/2
2.The Rotterdam Convention (PIC)
 Legislation / amendments to existing legislations to
implement the provisions/obligation of the convention be
notified.
 A study to document status of 41 chemicals now covered, be
conducted.
 A National Action Plan for implementation to be drawn up.
3. The Stockholm Convention (POPs)
 National Implementation Plan to be completed by 2008.
 Investment projects to be drawn up in parallel.
 Status of new POPs, POPs covered under OSPAR & LRTAP
in the country to be prepared.
4. SAICM
 A work plan prioritizing the activities in the Global Plan of
Action (GPA) for country be drawn up.
 An Inter-ministerial Coordination Committee to be
established to ensure timely action and implementation.
Recommendations of the Steering Committee
for 11th Plan (2007-12)/3
5. Bio-safety
 Ensure the conservation of biodiversity and human
health when dealing with Living Modified Organisms
(LMO’s) in trans-boundary movement in a manner
consistent with the Bio Safety Protocol.
 Review the regulatory processes for LMOs so that all
relevant scientific knowledge and international
regimes are taken into account, and ecological,
health & economic concerns are adequately
addressed.
 Periodically review the National Bio-safety Guidelines
and Bio-safety Operations Manual to ensure that
these are based on current scientific and international
understanding.
Role of Ministry of Environment and Forests/1
• The Ministry is the nodal agency in the Government
for various environment related multilateral
conventions and protocols.
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These are:
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species, Convention on Wetlands Of Internal
Importance
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animal
Vienna Convention on the Protection of Ozone Layer
Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the
Ozone Layer
Conventions on Biological Diversity
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Role of Ministry of Environment and Forests/2
 Kyoto Protocol
 Basel Convention on Trans-boundary Movement of
Hazardous Substances
 Convention to Combat Desertification
 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants.
India has been pursuing its commitments under various
conventions vigorously by initiating various measures
nationally and by taking several important initiatives in
the region.
Issues to be Addressed
• Need to identify synergies and overlaps between
the various MEAs.
• Need to explore synergies between MEAs and
RTAs.
• More resources required for ensuring sustainable
development.
• Environmental measures should be compatible
with open, equitable and non-discriminatory nature
of the multi-lateral trading system.
• Technical and financial assistance for compliance.
• Additional market access to mitigate negative effect
of environmental measures.
• Recognise sovereign rights for biodiversity.
Thank You!