Indo-EU talks in WTO next month

NEW DELHI, Nov 19: India and the European Union (EU) are to initiate formal talks next month in the WTO on India’s alleged misuse of health, safety, environmental, plant and animal protection considerations to restrict imports. Such consultations, if they do not yield an amicable solution, can lead to the constitution of a WTO disputes settlement panel whose ruling is binding. The E C’s director for WTO affairs, Herve Jouanjean, today cited a list of some 600 imports that India restricts on grounds of health, safety, etc, allowed under Article XX of GATT.