Nadda urges govt to take measures for HP apple, garlic growers

Union Health Minister J P Nadda has urged the government to take appropriate measures to provide succour to apple and garlic growers in Himachal Pradesh facing stiff challenge due to Chinese imports.
Nadda who met Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday also urged her Ministry to include apple in "special products" category so that the import tariff can be increased within the WTO framework.
"I had received several representations in the recent past from HP that low import tariff on Chinese apples and dumping of Chinese garlic through Nepal and Bangladesh in India at zero duty as well as its illegal smuggling has affected local producers of apple and garlic in Himachal Pradesh.

"I have taken up the cause with the MoS Commerce to explore ways and means to include apple in 'Special Products' category so that the import tariff can be increased on it within the framework of WTO rules. I have also urged Sitharaman to take up the cause of illegal garlic smuggling with the Home Ministry," Nadda said after the meeting.
Both apple and garlic are crucial for HP's economy also as the apple industry. Pegged at Rs 2,500 crore, it contributes around 6 per cent of the state GDP while supporting more than half of rural population across six districts.

The Chinese apple has given stiff challenge to domestic growers as according to India's stated position, import tariff on apple cannot be enhanced beyond 50 per cent under "bound rate of duty" commitment to WTO. To do so apple has to be included into "Special Products" (SP) category.
Nadda told Sitaraman that as apple does not figure in SPs category, the Commerce Ministry may initiate the process with Agriculture Ministry to bring the fruit under the category.
Nadda urged the Commerce Minister to take up negotiations with WTO so that further increase in tariff rates may be put on agenda in order to provide level playing field to lakhs of domestic growers of India and Himachal Pradesh in particular.