Budget wishlist: Scrap recycling sector seeks cut in import duty, GST

Industry seeks level-playing field with primary metal producers who enjoy duty-free import of finished products under FTAs with various countries

The metal recycling industry has urged the government pare the import duty on metallic scrap, its sole raw material, to nil from the existing 2.5-5 per cent. 

It also wants a reduction in goods and services tax (GST) to five per cent from the existing 18 per cent, in order to provide a level playing field with domestic primary metal producers who enjoy duty-free import of finished products under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with various countries.

In a pre-Budget submission to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the apex industry body, Metal Recycling Association of India (MRAI) president Sanjay Mehta, said, "Since