Commitment of South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) from South Asian Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) for trade liberalisation was one of the hopes in South Asia. This article highlights untapped trade potential in agro-trade between India and its trading partners in South Asia through Trade Potential Index (TPI). This article evaluates post-SAFTA effects of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on agro-products (HS 6-digit level) over the period 2004–2016. After 2004, many agro-products of South Asia have suffered trade restrictions which create challenges over SAFTA implementation. This article inquires whether NTMs in post-SAFTA has been trade creating or trade inhibiting in agro-trade for member countries as per the earlier commitments. Research methodology for this study includes qualitative and quantitative approach. Qualitative approach examines agri-trade constraints faced between India and rest seven South Asian countries and vice versa. Quantitative analysis explores prevailing trade barriers in selected agro-products during 2002–2016 applying Regional Trade Barrier Index and NTM Coverage Ratio. Results establish the presence of agri-trade barriers from South Asian countries against India as well as India’s barriers against rest seven countries of South Asia. Study concludes that agri-trade restrictions prevail in South Asia despite SAFTA which shows the slow process of trade liberalisation. JEL Codes: F13, F14, Q17

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后 SAFTA 农业贸易的非关税措施：印度-南亚方法的启示

南亚自由贸易协定（SAFTA）来自南亚优惠贸易协定（SAPTA）的贸易自由化承诺是南亚的希望之一。本文通过贸易潜力指数 (TPI) 重点介绍了印度与其南亚贸易伙伴之间农产品贸易中尚未开发的贸易潜力。本文评估了 2004 年至 2016 年期间非关税措施 (NTM) 对农产品（HS 6 位水平）的影响。2004 年之后，南亚的许多农产品受到贸易限制，这给 SAFTA 的实施带来了挑战。本文探讨了后 SAFTA 中的非关税措施是否按照先前的承诺在成员国的农产品贸易中创造了贸易或抑制了贸易。本研究的研究方法包括定性和定量方法。定性方法研究了印度与其他七个南亚国家之间面临的农产品贸易限制，反之亦然。应用区域贸易壁垒指数和非关税壁垒覆盖率，定量分析探讨了 2002-2016 年选定农产品的主要贸易壁垒。结果确定了南亚国家对印度的农产品贸易壁垒以及印度对南亚其他七个国家的壁垒。研究得出结论，尽管 SAFTA 显示贸易自由化进程缓慢，但南亚仍普遍存在农产品贸易限制。JEL 代码：F13、F14、Q17 应用区域贸易壁垒指数和非关税壁垒覆盖率，定量分析探讨了 2002-2016 年选定农产品的主要贸易壁垒。结果确定了南亚国家对印度的农产品贸易壁垒以及印度对南亚其他七个国家的壁垒。研究得出结论，尽管 SAFTA 显示贸易自由化进程缓慢，但南亚仍普遍存在农产品贸易限制。JEL 代码：F13、F14、Q17 应用区域贸易壁垒指数和非关税壁垒覆盖率，定量分析探讨了 2002-2016 年选定农产品的主要贸易壁垒。结果确定了南亚国家对印度的农产品贸易壁垒以及印度对南亚其他七个国家的壁垒。研究得出结论，尽管 SAFTA 显示贸易自由化进程缓慢，但南亚仍普遍存在农产品贸易限制。JEL 代码：F13、F14、Q17