On the EU-Indo Free Trade Agreement and its impact on gender issues

In June 2007 the EU and India entered into negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. An Agreement of this magnitude will have a massive impact on the security of substantial nourishment, the livelihood of a great number of people as well as with regard to the field of competences of Indian decision makers. There have been also been investigations undertaken proving that where poverty is higher and developmental achievements are lower women suffer disproportionately more. The entry point of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation into its Gender and Trade program in India is, therefore, the examination of what impact the ongoing EU-Indo FTA will have on gender.

Two interviews raising questions of gender justice in trade have been conducted to raise public awareness and to provide a small insight into the otherwise quite shut negotiations. The following is the first of the two interviews with Shri Amarendra Khatua, Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Chair of the Steering Committee on Gender and Trade,

Globalization and trade liberalisation affects groups of individuals differently including men and women as separate groups

On the EU-Indo Free Trade Agreement and its impact on gender issues

Q.1. - With you holding a very crucial position as the Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce and the Chair of the Steering Committee on Gender and Trade, we would like your views on the gender impact of bilateral trade agreements.

A: Trade liberalisation creates opportunities for certain sectors while some other sectors may be adversely affected and thus can have both positive and negative impacts. It is now being recognised that globalisation and trade liberalisation processes affects groups of individuals differently including men & women as separate groups. Therefore gender sensitisation of the trade policy needs to be taken seriously. There has been much less focus on the relationship of gender and trade, and in fact there are often assumptions regarding the “gender neutral” character of the processes of globalisation and trade liberalization. The labour market, is entered differently by both men and women depending upon their gendered roles and responsibilities. Secondly, men and women within the household, as well as, in the market have different access to resources -material, financial, technological and social. Therefore, there are gender differentiated impacts of trade policy. Another important point which we should take into consideration is the role of women not only as consumers but also as producers.

Q.2. - What is the link between the Steering Committee and the Indian trade negotiations?

A: There is no direct link between the Steering Committee and the Indian trade negotiations. However, the studies prepared by the Steering Committee, sensitisation programmes conducted by the Committee, the national work programme to identify various issues related to trade and gender will contribute by way of inputs for preparation of negotiated briefs and increasing sectoral awareness for the negotiator.

Q.3. - How far is the gender aspect currently taken into consideration within the negotiations?

A: There is no mandate as such with respect to gender and trade relation in WTO and the same is the case in bilateral trade agreements. However, the gender issues are taken care of indirectly by keeping in the sector where large population or work-force is women, for example, the agricultural sector and the textile sector.

Q.4. - How are the recommendations of the committee integrated into the negotiations?

A: As I have pointed out on several occasions, identification of gender sensitized tariff lines, the preparatory exercises for capacity building and re-training in the event of drastic or sudden tariff liberalization, highlighting the issues involving gender effect on trade will provide substantive inputs, if available prior to the commencement of various negotiations, to the negotiator for making him conversant with and sensitized to the related issues.

Q.5. - How do you assess which sectors to keep? – Researches: made by whom, based on what data and which focus?

A: At the moment, negotiations are not mandated to any extent purely on the basis of critical gender issues. Any negative or exclusion list is prepared on the basis of the inputs received from the stakeholders and covers the tariff lines involving welfare issues, subsistence issues, employment issues and developmental aspects. However, studies on gender sensitised sectors will help in identifying critical areas which need to be assessed carefully while finalising negotiations. These studies are being conducted by various think-tank organizations including the Centre for WTO Studies, RIS, GATI, UNCTAD etc.

Q.6. - Does the official government position of the gender issue vary vis-à-vis multilateral agreements like the WTO and the bilateral agreement? (For example, as multilateral agreements are pursued across a large number of countries, therefore standards are applied to all)

A: As I said, there is no mandate regarding gender and trade relation in the WTO.

Q.7. - How would you define the Steering committee’s role within the negotiations? To what extent is it possible for the committee represented by you to have an impact regarding women’s interests and rights?

A: The Steering Committee has organised three training programmes for sensitising the government officer, NGOs and research scholars working in different research institutes. Besides, four research projects have been given to IIFT, CUTS, RIS and GATI on the issue of gender and trade relations and their value in India’s foreign trade policy. Things are being looked upon from different angles. To add, there are three broad areas in which capacity at the national level needs to be developed and for which Steering Committee is working. Firstly, an understanding needs to be built within the relevant negotiating government ministries as well as private institutions about the gender implications of the substantive issues that are on the table. Import/export policies and market access commitments create specific opportunities as well as present challenges in terms of the nature and location of jobs, appropriate skills, etc. Tariff structures and export promotion can have an impact on domestic agriculture, food security and the nature of government services that are provided. A clearer picture of the impacts of these measures on gender can emerge only by examining the specific sectors – namely agriculture, services, investment or intellectual property. Secondly, trade relates to the contribution and participation of women and organizations that represent their interests in setting the agenda, formulating priorities and negotiating. Lastly, there have to be conscious efforts to increase the number of women around the negotiating table. For this to happen, capacity needs to be built and enhanced in these constituencies.

Q.8. - Do you think that there is any chance of including representatives of civil society groups and NGOs in the negotiations since they are currently taking place behind closed doors?

A: GATI and SEWA, two well-known NGOs, are members of Steering Committee. As I said, GATI is also doing one research project on trade and gender issue. So, NGOs are very much part of our efforts towards making the trade liberalization gender sensitive.

Q.9. - What is your suggestion for civil societies and NGOs regarding their work on gender impact of trade? Which sectors would you suggest for focusing on for potential research and advocacy and why?

A: NGOs are part of our efforts, as I said. Agriculture, textile, plantation crops, handicrafts etc. are the important sectors on which we need to concentrate because these are the sector where women are employed in a large number.

Q.10. - There will be a position paper by the Government of India concerning Gender and Trade. What issues does it focus on, on which research is it based and by whom? Is it possible for the Civil Society to contribute to this paper?

A: The national work programme involves interaction between various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, think-tank organizations, civil society and NGOs. There is no need for a position paper as already specific policy guidelines governing gender issues exist on paper for most of the Ministries and Departments. As far as trade and gender issues are concerned, the Steering Committee is working towards sensitizing the negotiator, training the trainer and bringing synergy by way of research, interactive meetings, workshops etc. on the issues and large scale participation by all concerned.

Shri Amarendra Khatua, Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Chair of the Steering Committee on Gender and Trade, (Ministry of Commerce)