ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Sanjoy BagchiSubscribe to Sanjoy Bagchi

The First War with Pakistan

War and Diplomacy in Kashmir 1947-48 by C Dasgupta; Sage Publications, Delhi, 2002; pp 239, Rs 250.

Exim Policy 2002-07

The new Exim policy will cover five years, making it coterminus with the Tenth Plan. Since the policy is mainly concerned with export trade procedures, it can be argued that a definitive programme of improved procedures for the entire Plan period might be of assistance in achieving the Plan targets of exports. It would, however, be a pity if further improvements were held back, even when they were demonstrably needed, because of the five-year term of the policy.

Murder in the Mills

I have plagiarised the title of T S Eliot’s drama Murder in the Cathedral because of its broad commonalty in the theme with the book under review. In a misfeasance moment, King Henry instigated the murder of Archbishop Becket who was one of the pillars of the realm. Similarly in pursuance of a misconceived theology, the government of India unwittingly killed the cotton mill industry, which was one of the foundations of India’s economy. The only difference was that Becket died swiftly, dispatched by the sword, in his cathedral. The mill industry, on the other hand, was progressively crushed by the steady piling of the diktats of the Congress-controlled state. It amounted to murder nonetheless.

What Happened at Doha?

India has been singularly successful in achieving its objectives in Doha - in securing primacy for implementation problems, in bringing the anti-dumping agreement to the negotiating table, in getting a waiver from the agreement on TRIPS in times of public health emergencies and creating the opportunity for protection of geographical indications and traditional knowledge, in ensuring exemption for integrated textile products from anti-dumping action and the negotiation of textile tariff peaks, in keeping core labour standards out of the purview of WTO and in postponing negotiations on the four Singapore issues. The only area where it had to compromise to some extent was in respect of trade and environment.

Seattle to Qatar: World Trade Negotiations

The draft Declaration for the WTO's ministerial meeting at Doha reveals some interesting shifts in the positions of important countries which may help to avoid a repetition of the type of fiasco witnessed at Seattle two years ago.

End of Quantitative Import Restrictions

The paranoia in some quarters over the ending of quantitative import restrictions will be proved unfounded and will die down. There will be some difficulties initially, particularly because domestic producers have been protected for so long. In the longer run competition from producers elsewhere will be beneficial for the domestic economy. This will, however, require policy-makers and other economic agents to give up their defensive attitudes and approach positively the tasks of becoming globally competitive.

India and the WTO

An alliance of diverse sectarian interests is claiming that India’s acceptance of the results of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations is threatening the sovereignty of the nation and the supremacy of its parliament. The fallacy of this wild propaganda needs to be exposed and the people educated on the benefits of a liberal and competitive trade regime.

Will There Be Free Trade in Textiles

Sanjoy Bagchi THE inclusion of trade in textiles as a subject for negotiations in the Uruguay Round was itself an achievement. Since 1961, textile trade has been governed by a separate set of rules, permitting the application of discriminatory quotas, in violation of the GATT's cardinal principle of nondiscriminatory treatment. The separate set began with a Short Term Arrangement for trade in cotton textiles. It was soon converted into a Long Term Arrangement for five years which was twice renewed for terms of three years ending in 1973. A new arrangement -the MFA-came into existence in 1974, extending the coverage of discriminatory quotas from cotton textiles to wool and manmade fibres. The MFA remained in. force, after several renewals, until the end of 1994. In between, the coverage was further expanded in 1986 to include products made of vegetable fibres other then cotton.

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