Government lists exporters' feedback: US 2nd biggest source of curbs

: Trade restrictions imposed by the US through standards and other compliances are next only to the European Union on a platform that is being put together by the govt based on feedback from domestic industry.
The commerce department, which is testing the portal, has received 24 complaints related to recent trade barriers erected by EU, followed by the US (22) and China (20), some of which have already been flagged by Indian officials during their interaction with American counterparts.
The list includes several standards related to labelling to safety for toys that

Indian exporters

ship. Similarly, textiles sector has its own set of complaints, which include norms on consumer safety, regulation of environmental sustainability footprint, labelling of cancer-causing chemicals and requirements on country of origin, with each expected to add compliance cost for Indian industry.
Similarly, diamond exporters want certain exemptions on requirements related to countries of mining origin following G7 sanctions on Russia, highlighting how norms could impact exports of goods worth $8 billion. Exporters have highlighted issues related to recognition of BIS certification for gold and silver bars.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has flagged how US authorities have restricted export of grapes despite the agency under the purview of the commerce department completing the required compliances. It has also suggested that more certification agencies for organic food should be authorised by the US govt till it signs mutual recognition agreements.
Officials said that Indian authorities have also raised the issue of costly registration fees and US FDA's norms.
While USTR puts out an annual report, Indian doesn't intend to do so. "Every country imposes restrictions and the idea is to put them together at one place so they can be highlighted during talks with trading partners," said an official.
The official also justified some of the issues flagged in the latest USTR report, arguing that some of the specifications in the country are due to religious or cultural factors such as the requirement that dairy products should not be from cattle that have been fed with animal feed that had meat. Besides, security concerns were the other area that resulted in some of the checks.