SJM opposes govt move to commit on e-commerce

RSS outfit Swadeshi Jagran Manch has asked the central government not to commit on e-commerce during the next round of negotiations at Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as it would “adversly impact” traders and policy issues.

The 20th round of negotiations at the RCEP will start in Incheon, South Korea, from Sunday.

In a letter addressed to union minister of commerce and industry Suresh Prabhu and union minister of electronics and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, SJM All India Co-convener Ashwani Mahajan has expressed “concern” on learning from news reports that e-commerce chapter is expected to be concluded during this round.

“We know any commitment on e-commerce in RCEP will be of great impact for our retailers, especially small retailers in India, many of whom are already adversely affected by mostly MNCs’ run e-trading portals. The proposals in RCEP include removal of tariffs on e-trading, which will severely impact the retailers as well as customs duty revenues and, therefore, government spending,” Mahajan wrote in the letter, which was released to the media.