16 Asia-Pacific countries are participating in tariff negotiations in Hyderabad

With the 19th round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) under way at Hyderabad, civil society organisations and advocacy groups are stepping up pressure on the government to come up with a coordinated strategy to cushion the impact of the mega trade pact and protect the vulnerable sectors in the State.

Four non-governmental organisations from Kerala have been selected to participate in the stakeholder consultations with negotiators at the ministerial meeting which seeks to liberalise the norms for trade in goods and services and promote investment among the member States.

Last year, the State government moved the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry with a representation calling for steps to ensure that Kerala’s interests are not compromised by the RCEP.

The government fears that the lowering of trade barriers under the FTA will bring tremendous pressure on the fisheries, industrial, agriculture, and allied sectors in Kerala from other RCEP member States, especially China, Australia, and New Zealand .

The State Cabinet had also sought discussions with the Centre on tariff negotiations under the RCEP.

“That is not enough. The government should walk the talk,” says Chittur MLA K.Krishnankutty, who chaired the committee set up to formulate the State’s agricultural policy.

“While exerting pressure on the Centre, the State government should have adopted a proactive approach. But so far there has been no consultations with the stakeholders to gauge the impact of the trade pact on livelihoods and the social and economic sectors.”

Mr. Krishnankutty points out that many of the cash crops in Kerala as well as the dairy sector are vulnerable to import surges triggered by the lowering of trade tariffs.

R.Sridhar, programme director of Thanal, an NGO based in the city, who is participating in the stakeholder consultation at Hyderabad on Tuesday said civil society organisations across India were looking up to Kerala to provide the lead in safeguarding the interests of domestic farmers, fishers, and small industries.

T.Peter, National Fishworkers Forum general secretary, said it was unfortunate that the State government had failed to take stakeholder communities into confidence on the response to the RCEP.

As many as 700 officials from 16 Asia-Pacific countries, including India and China, are participating in the Hyderabad round of discussions from July 18 to 28, which is expected to finalise the list of goods on which trade tariffs will either be eliminated or slashed significantly.

Apart from Thanal, the other organisations from Kerala slated to participate in the stakeholder consultations are the Farmers Coordination Committee, Plantation Workers Union, and the Malanadu Karshaka Raksha Samithi.