美国将服装列入修订的尼泊尔免税物品清单

US may include RMG in revised duty free Nepali items list
The United States is interested to revise the list of Nepali products enjoying duty free access through theTradePreferences Act (TPA). US officials have assured Nepal that readymade garments (RMG) from thecountrywill be considered for inclusion in that list, according to Chandra K Ghimire, secretary in the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies.
Seventy seven products are currently listed under the TPA. Ghimire said this after attending the fourth meeting of the Nepal-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council recently in the United States, according to Nepali media reports.
A Ghimire-led delegation held talks with officials from various US departments, including the state department, the department of agriculture, the department of labour, the US Agency for International Development, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, led by assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott.
The TPA, enforced in 2015 and to continue until 2025, offers duty free access to 77 Nepali products, including certain carpets and pashmina, headgear, shawls, scarves and travel goods.
Nepal pushed for garments in particular, citing the high comparative advantage, and sought US support regarding exports until the country fully completes its political transition, Ghimire said.
The United States had been denying providing duty free benefits to Nepali garments saying that could violate a World Trade Organisation (WTO) clause.
The US officials also expressed interest to offer technical support to Nepal to promote production of the goods under TPA lists.
The US officials, however, expressed concern over the investment environment in Nepal and policy reforms at a time when Nepal is are heading towards political stability.
Nepal signed the TIFA with the United States on April 16, 2011.
译文如下：
美国将服装列入经修订的尼泊尔免税物品清单
美国有意修订《贸易优惠法》中享有免税的尼泊尔产品清单。美国官员向尼泊尔保证，该国的成衣(RMG)将被考虑列入该名单，据该国工商部部长钱德拉•吉迈说。
目前有77种产品列在TPA之下。据尼泊尔媒体报道，吉迈在出席近期在美国举行的尼美贸易投资框架协议(TIFA)理事会第四次会议后发表了上述言论。
一个由吉迈领导的代表团与美国国务院、农业部、劳工部、美国国际开发署和美国专利商标局的官员举行了会谈，美国贸易代表助理马克·林斯科特率领代表团。
TPA于2015年开始实施，并将持续到2025年，提供77种尼泊尔产品的免税准入，包括某些地毯和羊绒披肩、头饰、披肩、围巾和旅游用品。
吉迈说，尼泊尔以其较高的相对优势为例，特别推动了服装的开发，并在出口问题上寻求美国的支持，直到该国完全完成政治转型。
美国一直否认向尼泊尔服装提供免税优惠，称这可能违反世界贸易组织(WTO)的一项条款。
美国官员还表示有兴趣向尼泊尔提供技术支持，以促进TPA清单下的产品生产。
然而，在尼泊尔正走向政治稳定之际，美国官员对尼泊尔的投资环境和政策改革表示担忧。
2011年4月16日，尼泊尔与美国签署了TIFA协议。