April 1, 2015

 

India wants end to suspension on buffalo meat to China
 

 

Despite a memorandum of understanding between China and India two years ago, a Chinese ban on buffalo meat imports from the subcontinental nation maintains, to the irk of New Delhi.

 

In response, Beijing claimed that India did not submit vital technical data until July last year.

 

The matter was brought up during an agricultural meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

 

"We raised the issue at the multilateral platform as we were not getting a satisfactory response from China bilaterally. We have no intentions of going to dispute yet, but can't comment about the future," a Commerce Ministry official said.

 

If the restriction is successfully overturned, India plans to sell meat to China at a value of $1 billion annually.

 

In the meanwhile, the country is still waiting for export clearance from the Chinese side once the latter's quarantine inspectors examine Indian meat facilities, according to a submission to the WTO agriculture committee.

 

A Chinese representative said that authorities will work intensively to end the ban.

 

The issue is expected to be raise again when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits China in the coming months.

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