India has no problem with imports from Chi: Official

New Delhi, June 15: India does not have problems with imports from any country, including Chi, as long as their origins are properly certified and the appropriate customs tariffs are paid, a senior official said on Wednesday. “We do not have any problems with goods from Chi being imported as these are required as intermediates to manufacturing. What we require is proper ‘rules of origin’ certification so that the appropriate customs tariffs are applied. Legitimate trade has to move,” Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said at the launch of a report - Enhancing India-Myanmar Border Trade - brought out jointly by the Commerce Ministry and Research and Information System for Developing Countries.

Last week, Chi expressed serious concern over India starting an anti-dumping investigation against Chinese steel products, while New Delhi has already imposed anti-dumping duty on them. India launched an anti-dumping investigation in April into hot-rolled steel coils imported from Chi, making for the fourth such probe against Chi this year, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Chinese commerce ministry statement.

“A road-map has to be prepared on how to allow more goods through land not just from Myanmar but also from other neighbouring countries including the entire Asean region,” the Commerce Secretary said.

Declaring that Myanmar has the potential to serve as a land bridge between India and Southeast Asia, Teaotia said land route border trade between India and Myanmar has seen a paradigm shift from barter to normal trade and also the recent abolition of the list of restricted items.

The opening of the first Indian bank branch in Myanmar by the State Bank of India by October will help to promote trade between the two countries, she added. India-Myanmar bilateral trade has increased from $1.3 billion in 2010 to $2 billion in 2014. (IANS)