Ministerial Council of South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) on Thursday expressed concern over unnecessary delay in reduction of sensitive list, which is necessary to boost intra-Saarc trade. The representatives of Safta member countries discussed different issues in their sixth meeting which were hindering progress in regional trade and recommended reduction in the sensitive list.
The ministers emphasised that for facilitation of trade in the region, the member states should reduce their respective sensitive lists under Safta. It was noted that member states were in the process of reducing their sensitive lists. The meeting agreed that the sensitive lists might be further reduced in years to come.
The ministers appreciated that the Saarc agreement on Trade in Services had been signed by all the member states and work was being done on finalisation of schedule of specific commitments under the agreement. They underscored the significance of services trade in the Saarc region. The leaders stressed that the schedule of specific commitments under the services agreement should be finalised and notified.
The meeting also discussed trade obstacles due to non-tariff measures/para tariff measures decided that list of NTM/PTMs already submitted by member states should be re-examined. It is agreed that a special meeting of the Committee of Experts (CoE) will discuss the NTMs/PTM before forwarding it to the relevant organisation for resolution.
The leaders also agreed on further relaxation in Saarc visa regime. They underlined the fact that without free movement of people across the border in the Safta region, trade would not flourish. On Trade Liberalisation Programme (TLP) under Safta, the meeting discussed the matter of timely issuance of Customs notifications for implementation of TLP under Safta.
The meeting emphasised that the member states should issue their respective customs notifications at least for the year 2012. Realising the importance of infrastructure in the Saarc region, the leaders emphasised the need for intra-regional connectivity through construction of road, rail and air networks.
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