November 01, 2001

KATHMANDU: Nepali and Indian officials will meet for the fourth time for two days beginning Saturday  to discuss the renewal of a bilateral trade treaty with India that expires in December, an announcement said. Commerce Joint Secretary Purusottam Ojha will head the Nepali delegation to the talks.

The talks are being held at the joint secretary level because Indian Commerce Secretary is attending a World Trade Organization conference in Doha, a Nepali source said. The third phase of talks was held in New Delhi at secretary level last month.

New Delhi is seeking revision of some clauses in the treaty that gives Nepali exports duty free access to India amid charges that the kingdom is dumping goods across the border; Nepal is pushing for the automatic extension of the treaty.

India wants restrictions on export of vegetable oil, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide, copper wire and GI pipes. Failure to extend the treaty will adversely affect the Nepali economy. Some business circles are pressing for political level negotiations to break a stalemate in on-going negotiations.