3rd August, 2015
CIRCULAR
REF. MR/MIN/1141
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Dear Sir/s,
Sub: SRTEPC Product Specific Rules of Origin (RoOs) in India's ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations - reg.
As you may be aware, India has been engaged in negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Countries, namely the ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its 6 FTA partners i. e., Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. This is by far the most comprehensive and far reaching FTA under negotiation by India with any trading partner/s and it is likely to be concluded within 2015.
It may be mentioned that India is already having trade agreements with all the 12 countries of the proposed RCEP, except three countries, viz., China, Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, Indian Textile Industry including the MMF textile sector is vulnerable since China is a member of RCEP and hence it is necessary that India moves very cautiously while making any commitments in this partnership agreement (RCEP).
In this regard, as desired by the Government, the Council has prepared a list of Product Specific Rules of Origin (RoOs) pertaining to the Man-made fibre textile products which fall under our purview. The list has been attached herewith for your valuable comments/suggestions and feedback. ANNEXURE I
Kindly send your valuable comments/suggestions and feedback on or before 6th August, 2015 to help the Council prepare and send a suitable consolidated reply to the Government in time. Your feedback is very important to save the interest of the Indian MMF textile industry.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
V ANIL KUMAR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Encl: ANNEXURE I
