Piyush Goyal: India Will Never Allow GM Product Imports in Trade Pacts

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in New Delhi on Tuesday, 3 November, that India has never allowed genetically modified (GM) products to be imported and will not allow them in future. He was replying to a student’s question on trade agreements at Kirori Mal College, and said India has also never given duty concessions on dairy in any free trade agreement, according to a Press Trust of India report.

Dairy and GM Stay Off the Table

“We are very sensitive not to allow any GM products to come to India,” Goyal said. “We have never allowed it and we’ll never allow it in the future.” He called the dairy sector “very sensitive” and said imported dairy must be certified “so that religious sensitivities of the large parts of India are not hurt”. He linked that point to calf-derived ingredients such as rennet, an enzyme used in cheese-making.

Goyal said India has “never ever” compromised on sensitive items in the trade pacts it has finalised, and described the stand as protection for farmers, fishermen and small businesses.

Also read Goyal: India to Build Tunnel Boring Machines If China Stops Supply

What India Wants in Return

On the other side of the table, Goyal said India seeks preferential market access for textiles, pharmaceuticals, footwear, leather goods, gems and jewellery, marine products and processed foods. ANI reported that the aim is lower import duties on Indian goods than those faced by competitors such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and the Philippines. Neither report says Goyal named a specific agreement.

Export Figures He Cited

According to ANI, Goyal said exports grew 14 per cent year-on-year to USD 480 billion in April–September, and that he expects another USD 520 billion in the remaining six months, taking the total to USD 1 trillion this financial year. IPB has covered earlier rounds of talks in its explainer on the India-US trade deal and the India-New Zealand pact, which took effect on 20 October.

Source: Based on reporting by Business Standard (PTI) and The Tribune (ANI).

Image: PTI.