Dailies Threaten Indefinite Stir Against Bid To Slap Dumping Duty

Newspapers across the country have threatened to go on indefinite strike if the Union government decides to levy anti-dumping duty on newsprint based on the recommendation of the designated authority of the commerce ministry.

The step is an attempt to throttle the freedom of the press, said representatives of the Indian Newspapers Society (INS), Indian Languages Newspapers Association, All India Newspaper Editors Conference and All India Small and Medium Newspaper Association at a press conference in the capital yesterday. The representatives said that the print media is being strangulated at a time when the country celebrates its 50th year of Independence.

 

The associations have decided to call for closure of all premises of newspapers for an indefinite period if the proposal to levy this duty is not withdrawn. They argued that the move would, in any case, lead to the closure of several small and medium newspapers across the country.

The duty, recommended by the designated authority of the commerce ministry, would take the total duty on newsprint to around 33 per cent, in addition to a 10 per cent duty already levied on newsprint.

Vivek Goenka, Editor in Chief, Indian Express, Mumbai, said that the timing of the governments action stinks since it comes at a time when revenues are dwindling and input costs are rising. He also said that the recommendation was unilateral and that the user industry had not been consulted so far.

He said that the issue was now at the discretion of the finance ministry, adding that the finance ministry had not ever differed from the findings of the designated authority in any cases so far.

The INS has already met the commerce minister and intends to approach the finance minister and the Prime Minister in this regard. The commerce minister indicated his inability to change the designated authoritys recommendation which is an independent and a quasi judicial body.

A correction

The story on anti dumping duty on newsprint incorrectly said that the ministry has levied an anti dumping duty on newsprint. The commerce ministry has recommended levying an anti dumping duty to the finance ministry. The final notification is announced at the discretion of the ministry of finance.

Ministry to reconsider move new delhi: The finance ministry yesterday assured that it will carefully examine the preliminary report of the designated authority before implementing its recommendations on anti-dumping duties. Revenue secretary N K Singh assured an INS delegation that finance minister P Chidambaram will be willing to meet them, an official statement said here.