No duty cuts on American apples, dry fruits imports: Union Minister Piyush Goyal

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal has denied the allegations levelled by the opposition over the centre’s move to reduce import duty on American apples.

Talking to media in New Delhi, the Minister stated that additional duties of 20 percent each on apples and some other dry fruits were imposed on the US’s products in 2019 as a retaliation to their state protectionist measure of increasing tariffs on certain steel and Aluminium products.

He informed that India has withdrawn the imposed duties after the US agreed to provide market access to Steel and Aluminium products under the exclusion process.

Mr Goyal also clarified that the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rate of 100 rupees per kilogram continues to be applicable on the US apples and dry fruits as only the additional MFN rate 20 rupees per kilogram is removed.