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For a number of years, India had maintained quantitative import restrictions on a wide range of agricultural, textile and industrial products (over 2,700 different types of products). India claimed it was entitled to maintain these restrictions for balance of payments reasons. In 1997, New Zealand, the European Union, the United States, Australia, Switzerland and Canada were all of the view that India could no longer justify these restrictions under the WTO rules. In July of 1997, each requested consultations with India under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding.
As a result of extensive consultations, New Zealand, the EU, Switzerland, Canada and Australia were able to reach a mutually agreed solution to the dispute with India, which was duly notified to the WTO (New Zealand’s notification - WT/DS93/8 - is dated 14 September 1998). As part of the solution to the dispute, India has agreed to a programme phasing out the quantitative import restrictions by 31 March 2003 at the latest.
