With the decision to resolve six outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes between the US and India through Mutually Agreed Solutions in June 2023, India has withdrawn additional duties on eight US origin products, including apples, walnuts and almonds vide notification number 53/2023 (Custom).

 

Additional duties of 20% each on apples and walnuts and Rs 20 per kg on Almonds were imposed on the US's products in 2019 over and above the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty as a retaliation to the US's state protectionist measure of increasing tariffs on certain steel and Aluminium products. These additional duties imposed by India on US-origin products have been withdrawn as the US agreed to provide market access to Steel and Aluminium products under the exclusion process. There is no reduction on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples, walnuts and almonds, which still applies to all imported products, including US-origin products, at 50%, 100% and Rs 100 per kg, respectively.

 

Further, DGFT, vide its notification number 05/ 2023 dated 8 May 2023, made an amendment in import policy for Apples under ITC (HS) 08081000 by applying MIP (Minimum Import Price) of Rs 50 per Kg for imports from all countries except Bhutan. Therefore, this MIP will also apply to apples from the US and other countries (excluding Bhutan). This measure would protect against the dumping of low-quality apples and from any predatory pricing in the Indian market.

 

This measure will not result in any negative impact on domestic apple, walnut and almond producers. Rather, it will result in competition in the premium market segment of apples, walnuts and almonds, thereby ensuring better quality at competitive prices for our Indian consumers. Thus, the US apples, walnuts and almonds would compete on the same level playing field as all other countries.

 

The market share of the US apples dwindled as other countries benefited from the imposition of additional retaliatory duties on the US apple and walnut imports. This is evident in the increase of apple imports from countries besides the US, from US$ 160 million in FY 2018-19 to US$ 290 million in FY 2022-23. Turkey, Italy, Chile, Iran, and New Zealand emerged as prominent apple exporters to India, effectively acquiring the market share once held by the US. Similarly, in the case of walnuts, the imports increased from US$ 35.11 million in FY 2018-19 to US$ 53.95 million in FY 2022-23, and Chile and UAE became the largest exporters to India. In the last three years, the import of almonds has been about 233 thousand MT, while domestic production is only 11 thousand MT, and India is highly dependent on imports. Therefore, the removal of additional duties will now ensure fair competition among the countries which are exporting these products to India.  

 

The Government today said that India is the largest export partner of Bangladesh; more so than Japan and China. Speaking at exploring new trade routes, India's North East to the Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh Transit Agreement in Agartala, joint secretary (Bangladesh and Myanmar) in the ministry of external affairs Ms Smita Pant said that the neighbouring country's export has touched a new high from 450 million US dollars to 2 billion US dollars.

 

She said the Agartala-Akhaura rail link project is almost complete on the Indian side and will be inaugurated by the end of this year. She said the work is under progress on the Bangladesh side, adding that it will be the seventh rail link connecting India with the neighbouring country.

 

The other five operational railway lines between the two countries are Petrapole to Benapole, Gede to Darshana, Singhabad to Rohanpur, Radhikapur to Birol and Haldibari to Chilahati. The seventh rail line will be connecting Assam.

 

Ms. Pant said, apart from trade and investment, the Government's Act East Policy is premised on connectivity and strong people to people ties.

After a three year lull brought on by the Covid pandemic, mango exports have gone strong this year with the Mumbai airport witnessing a 318 % jump in the fruit's exports this year versus 2022.

In 2022, 1,123 tons of mangoes we're exported from Mumbai airport, the number jumped to 4,700 tons this year, said a Mumbai International Airport Ltd spokesperson

The recent approval granted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the export of Indian mangoes to the United States has led to increased export volumes. The approval comes after a hiatus in mango exports since 2020, primarily due to travel restrictions imposed on the USDA inspectors which stopped them from visiting India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To handle mangoes and other perishable cargo such as fruits and vegetables, the airport has a temperature-controlled perishable facility with an annual capacity of 1,50,000 metric tons, said MIAL.

But India's leading airport for perishable cargo for three consecutive years has been Bengaluru (BLR), which is also the third busiest airport in India for passenger and air traffic.

'The BLR Airport has maintained its dominant position in the export of perishable goods, with 27% share in total cargo volumes across the Indian air cargo market and 41% share within airports in southern India,' said a BLR airport spokesperson.

 

'The airport witnessed growth in the export of perishable cargo, handling a record tonnage of 53,751 metric tonnes (MT) in financial year 2022-2023 (FY23). This represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year (FY22) when the airport handled 52,366MT of perishable cargo,' the official added. Among perishable goods, BLR Airport led in the export of poultry and floriculture/flowers in India with a 9% increase compared to the previous year.

Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Maldives, UAE, Kuwait, and the UK emerged as the top destinations for international exports, in FY23. 'The volume of perishable goods transported to Maldives and Kuwait rebounded to pre-COVID levels in FY23 and experienced a 50% growth compared to the previous year. The export of perishable goods to the United States has also tripled compared to FY22,' the BLR spokesperson added.

Poultry farms in Namakkal are coming to the rescue of Sri Lanka, which is facing an egg crisis.

 

Under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Corporation (BIMSTEC), India will be annually exporting eggs worth Rs 350 crore to Sri Lanka’s State Trading Corporation to help the island nation tide over the crisis, according to Dineshkumar Gurusamy, chairman of India BIMSTEC trade council and founder of Aetram Group of Companies.

 

Due to the economic crisis in the island nation, egg price has skyrocketed to Lankan Rs 65 (Indian Rs 16). This was brought down to around Rs 13 due to eggs being imported from India, said Guruswamy.

 

He was speaking to TNIE after the BIMSTEC trade office was opened in Chennai in the presence of Myanmar Ambassador U Moe Kyaw Aung to promote India’s vision after the G-20 presidency.

 

Hit by an unprecedented economic crisis for more than a year, Sri Lanka faced a severe shortage of essential food and the country couldn’t produce eggs as animal feed and other necessities for the poultry industry were not available due to the dollar crunch. 

 

Sri Lankan Cabinet had approved the proposal to import over 90 million chicken eggs per month from India to help domestic consumers buy eggs at a fair price. Guruswamy said 90 million eggs will be imported from Ponni Poultry from Namakkal.

 

'But we are looking at procuring eggs from other farms also as the demand is more,' he said.

 

Supply from India would result in bringing down the prices of eggs as it would reduce the demand and supply gap, he added. 

 

During the event, BIMSTEC signed a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka in trading of eggs, chillies, onion, pulses, grains, minerals and chemicals.

 

The MoUs signed are worth around Rs 1,000 crore, said Guruswamy.

 

A total of 140 tonnes of dry chilly per week from Anushka Impex will be exported from Guntur while 500 tonnes of onions per week will be imported from Nashik.

 

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal are members of BIMSTEC fostering closer ties among nations bordering the Bay of Bengal.

 

Moe Kyaw Aung said India is the fifth largest trading partner of Myanmar. He wanted industries in India to invest in Myanmar while urging India to become the largest trading partner.

 

The Asian Development Bank is in the process of developing a BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection master plan. Policies and the master plan will be finalised in the next meeting of the working group, said Dr Asif Iqbak, president of the India Economic Trade Organisation. 

 

He said that India is looking at alternative payment mechanisms to boost trade ties with nations like Iran, Russia, Cuba and others. 

 

Tackling a crisis

 

 BIMSTEC signs pact with Lanka for trade in eggs, chillies, onion, pulses, grains & chemicals

 Sri Lanka couldn’t produce eggs as animal feed were not available due to the dollar crunch

 Supply from India may reduce egg price as it would reduce the demand and supply gap

The UNDP and NABARD have joined forces through an MoU to create data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems for the benefit of smallholder farmers. The UNDC's full form is the United Nations Development Programme. However, they will collaborate by sharing open-source data to develop new products, transfer technology, and influence agricultural policies. UNDP will contribute its expertise in open innovations and data science to help NABARD incorporate data-driven decision-making into agricultural investments.

 

As per the UNDC report, The partnership involves improving and sharing collaborative digital resources like DiCRA, which provides open access to geospatial data for climate-resilient agriculture. With UNDP's support, NABARD will host and maintain DiCRA, using its datasets for policy and research. This five-year collaboration aims to promote climate action and economic empowerment in rural India. NABARD's Chairman, Shaji KV, is excited about the collaboration and envisions further cooperation with UNDP.

 

Reiterating UNDP's dedication, Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative, stated, 'UNDP is firmly committed to this cause. Agriculture, which employs 80% of rural women in India, represents the primary source of livelihoods and is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. DiCRA employs advanced data science and machine learning techniques to distinguish farms that are resilient to climate change from those that are highly vulnerable.

 

These innovative uses of open data can highlight best practices, optimize agricultural investments, and protect communities against risks. Partnering with NABARD will enhance our efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices and secure the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, especially women while reducing their vulnerability.

 

This partnership will facilitate the analysis of agricultural trends over time, offering insights to guide investment decisions in areas like watershed management, micro-irrigation, warehouse optimization, and climate-related initiatives. This collaboration will bolster the data resources of both UNDP and NABARD.

Haryana agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister J P Dalal on Tuesday emphasised the need for the government, industrialists, and farmers to unite for the advancement and prosperity of the farmers.

 

He urged the farmers to engage in horticulture and related sectors, which will reduce their agricultural costs and enable them to fetch better prices for their produce, thus increasing their income. The minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 4th Innovative Farmers Meet organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). At the meet, farmers and experts discussed innovative approaches to address challenges facing the agriculture sector.

India and Saudi Arabia agreed Monday to expand trade and security ties, two days after their leaders and others attending a Group of 20 summit announced a new railways and port corridor deal that will link India, Middle East and Europe.

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in New Delhi and chaired a meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The two leaders discussed issues ranging from energy security, trade and investment to defense, health care and food security, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

 

The India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council, established in 2019, serves as a platform between the two countries to increase ties.

 

In a televised press statement, Modi called Saudi Arabia one of India’s 'most important strategic partners.'

 

He said the 'corridor will not only connect the two countries, but will also strengthen economic cooperation, energy development and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe.'

 

During last week’s G20 summit, India, Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union and other countries announced an ambitious rail and shipping corridor that will link India with the Middle East and Europe in a bid to strengthen economic growth and political cooperation.

 

The corridor would help to boost trade, transport energy resources and improve digital connectivity. It would include India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel and the European Union, said Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser.

 

Signatories hope it can help integrate India’s vast market of 1.4 billion people with countries to the west, offer a counterbalance to lavish Chinese infrastructure spending, boost Middle Eastern economies and help normalize relations between Israel and Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the initiative 'a cooperation project that is the greatest in our history'

 

Ahead of the talks, Prince Mohammed was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi. He is on a three-day trip to India that included the G20 summit.

 

India views Saudi Arabia as one of its most important strategic partners in the Middle East. Trade between the countries stood at over $52.8 billion in the fiscal year 2022-2023.

 

India also has warm ties with Israel, with Modi and Netanyahu enjoying a close personal friendship.

Rice prices rose globally by 9.8% in the month of August, despite other food prices easing, because of 'trade disruptions in the aftermath of a ban on Indica white rice exports by India', the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has said in a report. This had led to rice prices reaching a 15-year nominal high.

 

'Uncertainty about the ban’s duration and concerns over export restrictions caused supply-chain actors to hold-on to stocks, re-negotiate contracts or stop making price offers, thereby limiting most trade to small volumes and previously concluded sales,' the report continued.

 

In July, India had banned the export of non-basmati rice to try and curb rising prices. The consumer affairs and food ministry said at the time that the move would 'ensure adequate availability' and 'allay the rise in prices in the domestic market'.

 

Non-basmati white rice constitutes about 25% of the total rice exported from the country. 'The prohibition on export of non-basmati white rice will lead to lowering of prices for the consumers in the country,' the ministry said.

 

India has since announced exemptions for Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore.

 

Reports have said that over 40 nations depend on India for over half of their rice imports, and certain African and South Asian countries procure over 80% of their rice imports from India.

The Centre Tuesday said it had not removed customs duty on apple and almond imports from the US and had put in place measures to prevent cheap imports flooding the Indian market.

 

'There is no duty reduction on apples,' Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal said.

 

On the contrary, the government has imposed a minimum import price of Rs.50 per kg on imports of apples from all countries except Bhutan, he added. 'This will ensure that no one can flood Indian markets and hurt our farmers,' Goyal said, adding that India had imposed a 20% retaliatory duty in addition to a 50% import duty on some US imports in view of trade disputes at WTO.

 

Only the retaliatory duty has been removed in view of the resolution of those disputes, he added. India is not self-sufficient in apple production to meet the domestic requirements.

 

An official statement said that following the decision to resolve six outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes between the US and India through Mutually Agreed Solutions in June 2023, India has withdrawn additional duties on eight US origin products, including apples, walnuts and almonds.

 

'Additional duties of 20% each on apples and walnuts and Rs.20 per kg on almonds were imposed on the US's products in 2019 over and above the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty as a retaliation to the US's state protectionist measure of increasing tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products', it said. There is no reduction in the MFN duty on apples, walnuts and almonds, which still applies to all imported products, including US-origin products, it added.

Hundreds of farmers involved in the cultivation of Apis cerana (Indian/Asian bee) would see a rise in their economies as a result of the Geographical Indications (GI) tag for Solai Honey coming from Banihal in the Ramban region.

 

A geographical indications (GI) tag is a type of intellectual property right that distinguishes products from certain geographic places and links them to those locations' distinctive natural traits and attributes.

 

Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussarat Islam earlier announced that Ramban Sulai Honey has been awarded the GI tag. 'A testament to our district's natural heritage and dedication.'

 

The representative from the Agriculture Department claimed that after much effort, we were finally successful in registering the Geographical Indications (GI) tag for Solai, Honey from Banihal.

 

Ayaz Ahmed Rishi, an agriculture official for Banihal said that Ramban district is the major hub for beekeeping.

 

He claimed that more than 480 beekeepers are actively participating in the rearing of Indian/Asian Bees (Apis cerana), and more than 1200 farmers are indirectly involved. Each farmer has an average of two to seven colonies of Indian Asian Bees (Apis cerana).

 

More than 6000 quintals of honey are produced on average each year in the district.

 

Representatives of the Agriculture Department claim that the primary source of income for over 2,000 people's daily requirements is honey bee farming.

 

About 35,500 colonies of Italian/European bees (Apis mellifera) are owned by traders. Additionally, more than 8500 colonies of the Indian bee Apis Cerana are raised conventionally in log and wall hives in the area.

 

We have Acacia, Mustard, Multiflora, Solai, and other wild flora, according to agriculture officials. The focus is on this species since Plectranthus rugosus, also known as Solai locally, is a common plant in the area.

 

Experts of the Agriculture Department claimed the plant is used in traditional medical practices for toothache and is claimed to be effective as an antiseptic, a hypoglycemic, an anti-diarrheal and a bronchodilator.

 

They said the unique taste and texture of Sulai Honey from the Ramban region is due to the availability of wild flora.

 

Farmers who want to venture into integrated farming can avail financial assistance and other support from concerned government departments.

 

Earlier in January 2023, Lt, Governor Manoj Sinha had visited the stall of Sanglaab Valley FRO, for GI tagging of Ramban Sulai Honey during a 2-day workshop on Geographical Indications of North Western Himalayas at SKUAST, Jammu.