Government's Exclusive Rights in Formulating Foreign Trade Policies

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced that individuals have no legal right to demand reasons for their suggestions being excluded from the Foreign Trade Policy. The government can consult stakeholders but retains the authority to amend the policy autonomously, without obligation to justify its decisions.

The government clarified on Thursday that individuals possess no legal entitlement to know why their suggestions or feedback were excluded from the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP).

A notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) emphasized that while the government may seek stakeholders' opinions, it retains the ultimate authority to modify or implement the policy independently.

The amended policy now includes a clause allowing the government to consult stakeholders like industry experts on a best-endeavor basis, though no legal obligation exists to justify these choices.

(With inputs from agencies.)