NEW DELHI: India today made it clear that resumption of talks with Pakistan on normalisation of commercial ties can only happen after it fulfils its commitment of removing trade restrictions.
There is a “sequential road map” and it was decided during the last meeting of Indo-Pak commerce secretaries that Pakistan will remove all restrictions pertaining to trade and commerce, the spokesperson in External Affairs Ministry said.
The next round of talks can only take place when the first step is completed, he said.
The trade liberalisation process between the two countries was impacted after the mutilation and beheading of Indian soldiers in January.
Pakistan has already missed the deadline of granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India by elimination of its negative list of items. India has granted the status to the neighbouring country way back in 1996.
The neighbouring country has to grant the status in December last year by phasing out the negative list regime.
India, at present, can export all items to Pakistan other than the 1,209 items put on the negative list. The elimination of the negative list regime will culminate in the grant of MFN-status to India.
Further, at present, only 137 items can be traded through the Wagah land border, though the total number of items for bilateral trade runs into thousands.
The Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan met the last time in September 2012.
During that meeting, both the sides had signed three agreements for cooperation in customs matters, redressal of trade grievances and conforming to quality standards.
Both the sides have also planned to liberalise trade in sectors like power and petroleum.
The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 2.60 billion in 2012-13. (Agencies)
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