India seeks Belgian help against EC move on duty on cotton bed linen

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) India has sought Belgian intervention against European Commission's proposal to impose counter vailing duty on import of cotton-type bed linen.

Expressing concern over it during his interaction with Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Karel De Gucht here today, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath urged him to get it resolved with with EC in the larger interests of smooth trade relationship.

Imposition of CVD will make export of such bed linen from India to European countries uncompetitive.

Underlining the need for strengthening bilateral relationship by diversifying and boosting trade between the two countries, Mr Kamal Nath said services sector has the potential to create mutually beneficial opportunities. "A facilitative visa regime will be helpful in boosting Indo-Belgian trade in services", he added.

Mr Kamal Nath said Belgium with changing demographics would increasingly need the services of professionals which India can provide, especially in health, information technology and engineering sectors.

Belgium is among India's top 5 trading partners in the European Union. Bilateral trade between the two countries during 2007-08 was USD 8.6 billion representing a growth of 13 per cent over the 2006-07 trade which stood at 7.6 billion dollars.

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