India is defending its quality control orders (QCOs) at the World Trade Organization, arguing that the measures are designed to achieve legitimate public policy objectives rather than act as trade barriers.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal made the statement during the Eighth Trade Policy Review of India at the WTO in Geneva on Thursday.
Agarwal emphasized that India’s broader trade strategy, including tariff reforms and customs simplification, aims to strengthen the country’s integration with the global economy.
The comments come as New Delhi has significantly tightened its import regulations.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) recently amended trade policy to explicitly prohibit the entry of goods manufactured using forced labour, a move that has drawn scrutiny from trading partners concerned about supply chain disruptions and non-tariff barriers.
Agarwal emphasized that India’s broader trade strategy, including tariff reforms and customs simplification, aims to strengthen the country’s integration with the global economy.
The government maintains that QCOs are necessary to ensure product safety and quality standards for domestic consumers.