India preparing arguments against USA's WTO solar case: Government.

NEW DELHI: India is preparing arguments in consultation with stakeholders to present its case in the WTO against a complaint filed by the US over the use of domestic content under the national solar mission, Parliament was informed today.

The US has dragged India into the WTO on the issue of the domestic content requirement condition on procurement of solar cells and modules under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) Programme.

On the request of the US, the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body is in the process of composition of a panel in consultation with both the parties.

"In the meantime, India is preparing its arguments and defence in consultation with the legal experts as well as the stakeholders concerned," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Besides this case, India and the US are also contesting two other disputes in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

One dispute relates to India's banning import of agricultural products, in particular the poultry and poultry products from a country infected with the Avian Influenza viral strains.

The other one was related to Countervailing Duty imposed by the US on certain hot rolled carbon steel flat products originating from India.

Replying to another question on India and Canada, Sitharaman said that both the countries negotiating Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA).

"The negotiations are presently in abeyance in view of review of the model text of BIPA," the minister said.

India has so far signed BIPAs with 82 countries. Of these, 72 including those with Russia, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands have already come into force and the remaining are in the process of being enforced

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com