States advised not to violate international -- obligations-Jaitley

摘要

The Centre has 'advised' States to ensure that they do not violate India's international obligations by way of discriminatory domestic taxation, according to the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Arun Jaitley. Asked at a press conference whether the levy of higher sales tax on imports by some States, including Tamil Nadu, compared to the tax on the corresponding indigenous product, nullified the Centre's notified levels of tariff protection and violated the Centre's sovereignty, Mr. Jaitley said sovereignty was 'too strong a word'. It was true that the country as a whole had to honour its international obligations (by according national treatment to imports). "Wherever this issue has arisen, we have advised the State concerned to ensure compliance on its part with the country's international obligations," he said.