India to provide duty-free access to products from LDCs

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) India has informed the World
Trade Organisation it will ensure the least developed
countries (LDCs) get access to its market without duties or
quotas.
In a presentation to the WTO Committee on Trade and
Development in Geneva last week, India said it was the first
developing country to offer duty-free and quota-free (DFQF)
market access to the LDCs.
Indian officials present at the meeting said India was
"working to ensure that the (DFQF) scheme provides effective
market access," to the LDCs.
The Indian market has been thrown open to these countries
for products of their export interest. The items to enjoy
duty-free entry include cotton, cocoa, cane sugar and
ready-made garments. Such a facility has been offered to 14
LDCs--Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia and some of the
African nations.
The WTO panel has been notified about India's free
trade agreements with Mercosur (countries comprising four
South American nations, including Brazil and Argentina) and
Afghanistan. PTI