Fearing WTO backlash, govt puts on hold textile PLI export targets

Govt officials say they are cautious as they don't want to be trapped in the WTO quagmire

The central government has changed its strategy towards its flagship scheme for manufacturing - production-linked incentives (PLIs) — by pulling out any export-related projections, as it wants to stay away from any backlash at the World Trade Organization (WTO). As such, it did not spell out any export-related projections in PLI for textiles, approved by the Union Cabinet last week. 

Government officials told Business Standard that even as the scheme has been carefully designed, and is compliant with the global trade body’s norms, they are cautious as they don't want to be trapped in the WTO quagmire.

Until now, the government had