Srinagar, September 12: Prominent political figures in Jammu and Kashmir, including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have vehemently opposed the central government’s recent decision to reduce tariffs on imported apples from the United States.
This move follows the agreement reached in June between the United States and India to resolve six longstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization. As part of this agreement, India committed to lowering tariffs on specific US products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents, as confirmed by a statement from the United States Trade Representative.
Notably, an additional 20% duty had been imposed on US apples in 2019 in response to US tariffs on select steel and aluminum products. However, it’s essential to clarify that there has been no reduction in the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples, which still stands at 50% for all imported apples, including those from the United States.
Farooq Abdullah, a leader of the National Conference (NC), strongly criticized the central government’s decision, expressing concern about its potential impact on Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. He accused the government of prioritizing appeasement of the US over the welfare of local apple growers. Abdullah appealed to the Government of India to reconsider this move, emphasizing the risk of exacerbating poverty and triggering protests if the concerns of the people were not addressed.
Mehbooba Mufti, Chief of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also voiced her opposition to the removal of additional tariffs on apples. She pointed out that there was no shortage of apples in the region, with both Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir producing an abundance of high-quality apples. Mufti criticized the government’s “Make in India” initiative as a “joke.”
CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami echoed the sentiments of the other leaders and criticized the drastic reduction in import duties on American apples. He expressed concerns about the impact on local apple growers and questioned their future prospects in a marketplace flooded with imported apples.
