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”.
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“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.