| Date: |
27-12-2014 |
| Subject: |
Take measures to restrict imports from China: Kerala |
|
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government has urged the Centre to impose higher anti-dumping duty to restrict product imports from China.
Addressing the pre-budget meeting convened by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely in New Delhi today, state Finance Minister K M Mani said increasing imports from China has been a big concern for the domestic markets.
Chinese manufacturers have been increasingly dumping and selling its products in the Indian market at very cheap prices creating irreparable damage to the Indian domestic market and producer, he said.
"Chinese products in Indian market are priced low that domestic products keep losing their market share," he said, adding the Centre should restrict imports of Chinese goods.
Mani said the Union Minister should ensure that there should be deliberations with every state before decisions on future changes under Goods and Services Taxes (GST) regime were taken.
The GST Council representing the Centre and states needs to act as a platform for states to discuss and negotiate as equal partners to ensure the success of the new tax policy, he said.
"State's concerns have already been raised with regard to the issues of compensation, negative list, rate, under the new tax regime of GST. I urge that the concerns of the state of Kerala on GST may be addressed at the earliest," he said.
Mani wanted Centre to address the state's long-standing demand for the waiver of the outstanding balance of the consolidated loans availed by the state from the Centre.
"This may be considered favorably in the Union Budget", he said.
With regard to adverse impact on state's economy due to fall in rubber prices, Mani said as an immediate measure to revive the sector, import duty of rubber and rubber products may be increased to 40 per cent.
The rubber sector may be brought under the ambit of the new scheme of "Make in India", he added. He also wanted announcement of a scheme in the Union Budget for supporting the rubber growers with soft interest loan from banks.
Mani suggested structural policy changes to attract more stakeholders for promoting investment in agriculture sector.
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com
|