[Jan] "Information Technology Agreement" (ITA)

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

World Trade Organization (WTO) consists of (has) several agreements like GATT, TRIPS, GATS, Agreement on Agriculture and many more. So, “Information Technology Agreement” (ITA) is just one such agreement under the overall WTO framework.

Question 2

Started when?

Answer 2

signed in 1996 (one year after WTO came into effect from 1st Jan 1995) and India joined the Agreement in 1997. India is in the process of implementing the ITA. No need to go into details.

Question 3

Demand from member countries?

Answer 3

requires each participant (member country) to eliminate and bind customs duties at zero for all products specified in the Agreement. “Bind” means If a country has eliminated the customs duty to zero then the member country is bound by it and in case if it increases then it will have to face penal provisions.

Question 4

Products included under ITA?

Answer 4

covers a large number of high technology products, including computers, telecommunication equipment, semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing and testing equipment, software, scientific instruments, as well as most of the parts and accessories of these products.