Safety norms attached to Chinese toys discriminatory

Ajay Kaul

New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) China labelled as discriminatory
the conditions imposed by India for importing toys made there
and said New Delhi should apply the same 'safety standards'
criteria for goods shipped in from other nations.

Beijing, which views the import bar as a protectionist
measures, wants the resolved through negotiations and ruled
out any retaliatory measure.

"The present practice, we feel, is a little bit
discriminatory to China. This is sensitive to us. Any
discriminative measure is sensitive," Chinese Ambassador Zhang
Yan told PTI here while talking about India's decision to
attach conditions for import of Chinese toys.

"If measures are taken against only Chinese toys, we have
a feeling that Chinese producers were discriminated against,"
he said.

India had in January imposed a blanket ban on import of
toys from China but relaxed it within six weeks by making the
import conditional on meeting certain safety standards.

Virtually questioning the decision to single out Chinese
toys for the safety standards clause, the envoy said that if
India uses "discriminative standards to all imports, then it
would be different."

"India should adopt same criteria, same standards to all
products, including (those exported) from India," he said.

The Chinese envoy said if the same standards are applied
for all toys produced in any country, including India,
"producers in China will feel they are equal".

Asked whether his country sees India's move as
protectionist, Zhang evaded a direct reply. He, however, said
that India had taken the step after local producers of toys
complained about too many Chinese toys coming into the market
and sought the government's help.

"We want to solve it peacefully and in a friendly
manner," he said, adding that "it is question of resolving the
discriminatory practice and to treat toys of all countries on
equal basis."

Asked if Chinese toys met quality standards set by India,
he said: "A large number, especially those manufactured in
factories run by foreigners through joint ventures in Hong
Kong... are of very high quality."

The Chinese envoy ruled out any retaliatory action by his
country and said New Delhi and Beijing would sort out the
issue through discussions.

He referred to last week's talks between Chinese Deputy
Minister of State for Commerce Zhong Shan and Indian Commerce
Secretary G K Pillai and said the two sides had agreed to look
into the matter.

"We had friendly talks and reached broad consensus. The
two sides agreed to set up a working group at technical level
to look into details and solve the problems," Zhang said about
the discussions.

"We are happy that both sides have made some effort and
some progress has been seen," the Chinese Ambassador said and
added that the two sides will meet frequently on the issue.

He said Pillai has said that India is working out
standards for all toys that would be imported. "Once that is
worked out, we will solve the problem."

China was earlier contemplating approaching the World
Trade Organisation against the Indian move but is now hoping
that the matter would be resolved bilaterally. PTI AKK
AM