US wants to post officials at major Indian ports

Chennai, Dec 7: The Centre is studying a US proposal to have its officials in the Indian ports under the Container Security Initiative.

'The proposal has come and it is under active consideration of the government', Central Board of Excise and Customs Chairman V P Singh told reporters after the three-day 56th Policy Commission meeting of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which concluded here today.

As part of its global initiative the US wanted to deploy their officials in major ports of the countries from where cargo exports to the US were high and had written to the Indian government also in this regard.

In India, initially, the US Customs department wanted to post officials in JNPT, Mumbai, a major exporter of containers to US, and then in Chennai.

''The proposal has come and it is being deliberated on. The Inter -Ministerial committee set up by the government is discussing it.'' he said.

On the outcome of the WCO meeting, its Secretary General M Danet and Chairman T Erling said measures to combat counterfeiting and piracy were the main topics of discussion. ''Counterfeit products are killing people in poor and less advanced countries and the WCO will make available 45 stringent measures to combat this menace,'' they said.

Quoting European Union reports, they said counterfeit products had increased by 1000 per cent during 1998-2006 and by 350 to 380 per cent in the US during 2000-04. The products included two wheeler spare parts, food items, domestic equipment, toys and beauty products, oil and petrol items, washing power and tooth paste.

Already counterfeit shirts had been doing the rounds in countries playing the next year's Cricket World Cup in the Carribean.

The WCO would conduct an anti-fraud campaign in February in West Indies and other participating nations to prevent proliferation of fake items, as counterfeit products represented five to seven per cent of total world trade, roughly equivalent to 500 billion euros.

They said during the meet, activities that impaired customs work were also discussed. The WCO took note of rising volume in trade and traffic and coping with increased workload and improving processes.

The meeting also discussed the role of customs administration in this century. This was significant because as and when WTO talks succeeded, customs should be equipped to handle higher trade volumes,they added.

UNI