The removal of a 20 percent retaliatory duty on imports of American apples will have 'zero' impact on Indian farmers

The decision to remove 20 per cent retaliatory customs duty on imported American apples will have zero impact on Indian farmers as the government has sufficient policy space to support growers if there is any implication of the move, a senior government official said on Monday. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Peeyush Kumar said that India is not giving anything extra by removing this duty and it was not that we have opened a floodgate for American apples. In fact, it is a win-win deal for India as it restores market access for domestic steel and aluminum products in the American market, which was impacted due to the imposition of high duties by the US in 2018. The decision to remove these additional The duties was part of an agreement reached between India and the US, during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington and New York. India and the US have also agreed to terminate six trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO). These ...