This story is from August 13, 2020

Plea against reducing import duty on tea

Plea against reducing import duty on tea
Udhagamandalam: The United Planters’ Association of South India (UPASI) has made a request to the Union government that there should be no tweaking with the import duty of tea, which currently stands at 100%.
Any move to reduce the import duty will be detrimental to the interests of tea growers and workers dependent on the agro industry, which is also a question of livelihood of the tea growers and workers, UPASI said in a press release.

The statement was issued in the backdrop of reports that tea traders in the country have sought duty free import of tea, in the context of marginal increase in tea prices due to lower production.
A L R M Nagappan, president, UPASI, said, “We strongly object any move to tinker with the import duty structure as it will be counter-productive for the tea growing sector with 2.12 lakh growers and 11.65 lakh workers”.
According to the release, 50% of tea production in the country is by small growers. The Indian tea production till June was lower mainly due to the initial lock down measures. This has led to some increase in the prices since mid-June 2020, which was very much needed for the sustenance of this agro industry. However, due to the pandemic, exports from India i[Jan-May] and this quantity is available in the domestic market.TNN
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