List of products facing problem in export forwarded to China
KATHMANDU:
The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has forwarded a list of 211 agricultural and food products to its Chinese counterpart seeking relaxation of standards for exporting them to the market of northern neighbour citing the commodities have been repeatedly facing standard-related non-tariff barriers.
“As the Chinese officials asked about products facing barrier of standard while exporting to China during the meeting of Nepal China Tibet Trade Facilitation Committee in September-end, we sent a list of 211 products asking China to relax standards on those items,” said Jib Raj Koirala, joint secretary of MoCS.
It is expected that traders would not face problems of standard-related non-tariff measures (NTMs) set by the Chinese government if the northern neighbour extends special treatment to those products. However, quarantine and inspection on standard would have to be complied while exporting these products, as per Koirala.
The list sent to China on December 29 incorporates a wide range of products like livestock, horticulture, medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, seeds and cereals, among others.
As per the list obtained by The Himalayan Times, Nepal has proposed relaxation of standards on livestock like, live swine, sheep, goat and poultry, among others.
Likewise, meat (fresh and chilled), dairy products, eggs, natural honey, pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, fenugreek (methi), spices, coffee (unroasted), lentils, edible fruits or nuts, bamboo, cut flowers, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, turnips, edible roots, peas and mushrooms, among other vegetables have been proposed.
Similarly, fruits like coconuts, mangoes, oranges, grapefruit, citrus fruit, apples, plums and sloes, and strawberries have also been included in the list.
Other major agricultural and agro processed products like maize seed, maize corn, millet, cereals, durum wheat, rice in the husk, husked (brown) rice, broken rice, buckwheat, wheat flour, wheat starch, soya beans, ground-nuts, linseed oil, vegetable and fruit seeds have been included in the list that was forwarded to China.
MoCS has also sought easy access of medicinal herbs, yarchagumba, plants and parts of plant, rudraksha, khayar kattha, and olive oil in the market of the northern neighbour.
Some other processed food and non-food agro products that were included in the list of 211 products are jam, sugar, uncooked pasta, sugar confectionery not containing cocoa, sweet biscuits, mixture of fruits, frozen orange juice, tomato juice, apple juice, mixture of juices, baking powder, sauces, digestive pills, wheat bran, oil cakes, mineral water and other non-alcoholic beverages.
As Nepal lacks an internationally accredited lab, the Chinese customs do not accept the quality certificate issued by the Nepali lab. Hence, traders have long been facing quarantine, and standard-related hassles while exporting agro products to China. The issue will be resolved if China considers the proposal sent by Nepal.
Nepal has also has sought similar treatment on the export of agro products with its southern neighbour, India. As the country’s trade deficit with these immediate neighbours has been increasing every year, such facility for Nepali goods in the market of China and India are expected to help boost export.
Source: THT
