‘Ban on toys WTO-compliant, won’t affect trade with China’

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New Delhi: The government on Friday said its ban on imports of Chinese toys was fully WTO-compliant and ensured that its rules do not permit Chinese firms routing their toys into India through a third country. However, the Centre termed the ban as a “one-off issue” and insisted it will not affect the India-China bilateral trade that is currently booming.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the commerce and industry ministry on Friday in a circular to field officers including customs and licensing authorities said the ban “shall be applicable on all such toys which have originated from China, irrespective of the country of import.” The circular made it clear that the word ‘originated’ shall mean manufactured in China.

However, it said the ban does not apply to imports of such toys where the import shipment has been made prior to the imposition of the ban.

The DGFT in the ministry on January 23 issued a notification saying “import of ‘toys’ from China is prohibited for six months with immediate effect and until further orders”. The notification said the decision to ban import of Chinese toys was taken “in public interest.”

The banned items include wheeled toys designed to be ridden by children (tricycles, scooters and pedal cars), dolls carriages, dolls representing human beings, miniature models, smaller recreational models and all kinds of puzzles.

Asked about the reason behind the ban, commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said on Friday that the decision was taken on the grounds of public health and safety.

He said the ban was “fully compliant with the WTO rules.” “India is a responsible country and before we take any action we make sure that it is WTO compatible,” he added.

Pointing out that India has “good” trade ties with China, he said the ban was a one-off issue. “This (ban) is a matter of public health and safety and it should take precedence over commercial concerns,” he said. Terming reports of China threatening to take India to WTO over the ban on Chinese toys, as “kite flying”, official sources told FE that the Chinese government had not yet contacted them in this regard.

Not a child’s play

• The DGFT in a circular to field officers said the ban shall be applicable on all such toys which have originated from China, irrespective of the country of import