Special Issue of Global Trade and Customs Journal Launched

A special issue of the Global Trade and Customs Journal was launched at a function held in the India Islamic
Cultural Centre, New Delhi on 15 November, 2019.The special issue was edited by Dr. James J. Nedumpara,
Head and Professor of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and
published by Wolters Kluwer, Netherlands. The Journal launch was followed by panel discussions on the
theme “India in the International Economic Order: Issues and Perspectives”.
Additional Secretary, Sudhanshu Pandey, Department of Commerce in his inaugural address said thattrade
agreements are important as investors tend to look not just at the foreign markets, but how investments could
be harnessed to achieve greater access and integration in goods and services. He further stated that trade and
investment policies need to be examined holistically and an integrated manner rather than within interministerial
silos.
The Special Issue of Global Trade and Customs Journal has compiled articles pertaining to India and its
involvement in the international trading system. The Journal has focused on topical issues such as India’s
engagement with regional trade agreements, India’s position on electronic commerce and the need for
flexibilities for developing countries such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the availability
of import restrictive measures in agriculture, especially when there is a domestic glut.
The panel discussions were chaired by Dr. Ram Upendra Das, Professor and Head, Centre for Regional
Trade.Presentations were made by Ambassador V S Seshadri, India’s former Ambassador to Myanmar, Dr.
Veena Jha, former India Co-ordinator of UNCTAD and Partner,Ikdhwaj Advisors, Prof. Abhijit Das,
Professor and Head, Centre for WTO Studies, Ms. R V Anuradha, Partner, Clarus Law, Mr. Parthasarathy
Jha,Economic Laws Practice, Dr.PrabhashRanjan, South Asian University, and Ms. Rohini Sisodia, Of
Counsel. Theparticipants noted that the decision of a country to adopt a defensive or offensive trade policy
may be done only after analysing the country’s trade and export promotion profile and domestic sensibilities.