Rajesh Agrawal bats for integrated approach to trade and sustainable development
New Delhi, Aug 1
Trade and sustainable development is a cross-sectoral policy issue requiring an integrated approach encompassing trade, industry, sustainability and competitiveness, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
Noting that sustainability regulations and unilateral environmental measures have become enduring features of the global trading system, he underlined the need to create an enabling ecosystem to support industry in adopting sustainable practices.
Agrawal observed that early adaptation would strengthen India's global competitiveness and better position the country to respond to the evolving international trade landscape.
The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, organised a day-long workshop here, which brought together senior government officials, trade negotiators, and representatives from industry, academia, think tanks and the legal community to deliberate on the evolving interface between international trade and sustainable development.
The discussions highlighted the importance of leveraging these domestic initiatives to strengthen India's preparedness for emerging sustainability-related trade disciplines and to inform its future trade engagements.
The workshop featured four thematic sessions on India's domestic carbon framework, global trends in TSD provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the evolving global carbon regulatory framework, and strategic options for shaping India's future approach to Trade and Sustainable Development, according to an official statement.
The discussions focused on the growing importance of sustainability-related measures, including carbon markets, carbon pricing mechanisms, carbon border adjustment measures, sustainability standards and regulatory cooperation, and their implications for India's trade and industrial competitiveness.
The workshop was the first in a proposed series of consultations aimed at strengthening India's strategic approach to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) in the context of evolving global trade disciplines and ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
According to the statement, it concluded with deliberations on India's evolving domestic sustainability architecture, including the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), the Indian Carbon Market, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, and the country's accreditation and conformity assessment ecosystem.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is exactly what we need. Our MSME sector will suffer the most if we don't prepare them for sustainability standards. The government should not just hold workshops but also provide financial support to small businesses to adopt green practices. Otherwise this will remain a talk-shop only.
Interesting to see India taking proactive steps on this front. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme could become a game-changer if implemented properly. However, I hope India will negotiate smartly in FTAs - we shouldn't accept Western sustainability demands wholesale without ensuring our developmental needs are protected. Balance is key.
One concern though - while we talk about carbon markets and sustainability, what about the livelihood of our farmers and workers in traditional industries? The transition to green trade should be just and inclusive. Hope the policymakers include social impact assessments in these consultations. 🤔
Good that we are finally waking up to this reality. For years, developed countries have used environmental standards as non-tariff barriers to keep our exports out. Now we must play the same game but in a smarter way. Developing our own carbon market and standards will give us negotiating power in WTO and FTA talks.
As someone who follows global trade policy closely, I appreciate India taking a strategic view rather than reactive measures. The EU's CBAM is already impacting exports - proactive engagement with domestic stakeholders shows maturity. The question is execution - let's see how these workshops translate into actual policy action.
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