According to the report, the differences surfaced during the meeting of Safta sub-group on NTBs on May 16-17 in Kathmandu, which is aimed at working out measures and guidelines to do away with the existing NTBs in Saarc, as per the directives of the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) Council of Ministers.

To resolve the differences, the sub-group asked each member state to identify NTBs and para-tariff barriers that have been hindering its trade with other Safta contracting states.

They have also been asked to forward national positions on ways to address those barriers. "The members have been asked to submit that position papers at the Saarc Secretariat within a month," a government source was quoted by the report as saying.

Talking to the newspaper, the source added the meeting failed after larger importing countries tried to defend NTBs as their legitimate safeguard measures.

During the meeting, the technical experts from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Maldives and Bhutan discussed such issues as quality standard, standard accreditation and laboratory measures, among others.

Besides the national position, the sub-group has also asked each member to inform about the number of testing laboratories they have along with certified standards and testing methodologies.

They have also been asked to identify their expertise and weaknesses on the subject.

This is necessary for harmonising the accreditation system and also to acquire technical assistance from able members," the source said.

Under the Safta arrangement, least developed countries (LDCs) can seek technical assistance from able developing members.

According to the source, the sub-group has decided to convene the next meeting in July.

"We expect the next meeting to finalise Safta guidelines on NTBs," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Once finalised, the sub-group will be asked to forward guidelines to the Committee of Experts (CoE) for endorsement.

The meeting of CoE has been scheduled for October this year.