The removal of retaliatory customs duties on eight American products, including apples, walnuts, and lentils, will not result in a loss to the country, Parliament was informed on Friday. India had imposed these duties on 28 US products in retaliation to America's move to increase import duty on certain steel and aluminium goods.

 

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Washington, both sides decided to resolve six trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation. India also agreed to remove the duties.

 

The government has decided to remove retaliatory customs duties on import of almonds (fresh or dried, in shell), walnuts, chickpeas, lentils, apples, medical diagnostic reagents, and boric acid, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

 

'The removal of retaliatory tariffs or cuts in import duty with the US does not result in a loss to India,' she said.

 

'It simply means that the additional duties imposed as a response to the US measures are no longer applicable and the MFN (most favoured nation) tariff rates as applicable to all countries prevail,' she added.

 

In a separate reply, she said India's foodgrains exports have registered a steady growth in the last few years. This, she said, is reflected in the increase in the country's share in world foodgrains exports from 3.38 per cent in 2010 to 7.79 per cent in 2022, according to UN Comtrade statistics.

 

Wheat exports declined to USD 1.52 billion in 2022-23 as compared to USD 2.12 billion in 2021-22. India has currently banned wheat exports.

The FSSAI has decided to extend the timeline for FSSAI-NABL integrated assessment scheme for food labs until March 31, 2024.  

 

The food authority has issued an order, in this regard, saying that all laboratories already notified by FSSAI, which have not obtained FSSAI-NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories) integrated assessment accreditation, must obtain the same prior to the expiry of their NABL accreditation validity period or before March 31, 2024, whichever is earlier.  

 

According to the food authority, FSSAI will only accept fresh proposals from laboratories for FSSAI recognition and notification if the laboratory has obtained accreditation under FSSAI-NABL integrated assessment scheme.

 

And such labs should get FSSAI-NABL integrated assessment on or before March 31, 2024.  

 

In 2019, FSSAI issued a notice, in this regard, asking all the notified laboratories to get integrated assessment for accreditation under FSSAI-NABL unified approach of laboratory accreditation/recognition/approval system which also has other regulatory boards.  

 

And, accordingly, the food testing labs willing to apply for FSSAI recognition/ renewal/extension of scope and so on were asked to apply only through the unified system of integrated assessment.  

 

Subsequently, in September 2022, the date for such integrated assessment was extended until June 30, 2023.  

 

This will be the third time FSSAI extended the timeline.

The Government of India, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country. This Department has appointed five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty-four RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country for incubation of startups and implementation of this programme.

 

Start-ups are trained and incubated at various Knowledge Partners (KPs) and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) appointed under the programme across the country. Technical and financial assistance is provided to startups to launch their products, services, business platforms, etc into the market and facilitate them to scale up their products and operations to attain business viability.

 

Besides, KPs and R-ABIs are promoting these startups by linking them with various institutions and organizations for their product & technology validation, certification, etc. Government of India organizes various national level programmes including agri-startup conclave, agri fair and exhibitions, webinars, workshops to serve as a platform for the promotion of agri startups by linking them with various stakeholders.

 

Under the programme, a financial support up to Rs. 5.00 lakh is provided at the idea/pre seed stage and up to Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage. So far, a total of 1176 agri startups have been supported under the programme with financial assistance of Rs. 75.25 crores.

 

Besides, Government of India has approved a proposal to set up an 'Accelerator Fund' of Rs. 500 crore for five years commencing from 2023-24 to encourage the young entrepreneurs to setup agri-startups. Accelerator fund will help to scale up the successful startups with innovative technologies having the potential of modernizing the agriculture ecosystem of the country. This initiative will also help to the farmers by having value addition to the agricultural produces, better supply chain and market linkages etc and to boost agricultural economy in the rural areas of the country.

 

Under the Accelerator Fund programme, certain activities are planned like development of institutional mechanism and operational guidelines, identification of problem statements in agriculture & allied sectors, selection of agri-startups having high impact & innovative solutions, technical and financial support to encourage selected agri-startups and capacity building, etc during 2023-24.

 

 This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

To promote millets in restaurants and hotels, the Ministry of Tourism is taking several steps such as establishment of millet experience centres, create awareness on health benefits about dishes made out of millets amongst Indian and International chefs, meetings with hotel associations and hotel chains. Further, prominent Indian chefs are also encouraged to promote consumption of millets and sensitize on health benefits across all hotel chains and restaurants. The Government is celebrating International Year of Millets (IYM)-2023 at national, state and district level through organization of events, workshops, seminars, road shows, kisan melas etc., to create domestic & global demand, promote climate resilient crops, enhance production, consumption, export etc., due to their unique properties.

 

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach with central government ministries, states/union territories, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc., to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and to promote Indian millets globally. Twenty-Four Ministries/ Departments of the central government, all the State Governments and Indian Missions abroad are conducting two-week dedicated activities on millets for improving millets value chain and creating awareness on IYM.

 

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad is providing training to the farmers, women farmers, home makers, students and young entrepreneurs on manufacturing of value-added millet food products, daily recipes etc., and supporting them to establish self-enterprise. The institute has developed 67 value-added technologies including 'Ready to Eat' and 'Ready to Cook' for millet foods, branding of millet foods under 'Eatrite' tag, organizing awareness programmes, agri-business incubator, technology business incubators etc.

 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

India's contracting exports have prompted the government to introduce incentives for startups and new exporters, and relax compliance norms for the existing exporters.

 

Under the Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme, startups and new exporters have been made eligible for airfare reimbursement to participate in overseas events while the ceiling for this incentive for existing exporters has been raised 20%.

 

India's goods exports shrank the most in three years, at 22% on-year, in June to $32.97 billion. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for export promotion activities.

 

Earlier, new exporters and startups didn't get such incentives but now those with Rs 50 lakh annual turnover in the domestic market will get some support.

 

The benefits of higher airfare reimbursements will also apply to the exporters when they host foreign buyers in reverse buyer-seller meets in India.

 

'Incentives are important as mega trade fairs are being thought of and there is a need to scale up our exhibitions and invite foreign companies to exhibit here,' said an official.

 

India plans mega trade fairs for food, textiles and auto components, on the lines of Messe Frankfurt, Gulf Food and Canton Fair, to achieve 12% growth in good exports by 2030.

 

'The coverage of new entrepreneurs with nil exports for airfare support under the scheme is well conceived and pragmatic to encourage startups to enter into exports field particularly as we are looking towards a $1 trillion exports by 2030,' said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

 

Benefits under the MAI scheme are availed through activities organised by the government, states, export promotion councils and commodity boards, among others.

Talks between Britain and India on a free trade agreement (FTA) have gained momentum but further work is needed on services and tariffs to secure a deal, a British source close to the negotiations told Reuters.

 

Britain began free trade talks with India in January last year as it looks to establish its credentials as an independent trading nation after leaving the European Union and is seeking an Indo-Pacific tilt to its foreign policy.

 

Talks had seemed stuck earlier this year, with the two sides struggling to make progress in a number of key areas amid concern there could be further political complications if talks drag on. Elections are expected in both countries next year.

 

However, momentum has improved following the conclusion of the eleventh round of talks this week, the source said, allowing negotiators to turn to more commercially sensitive topics that are likely to be some of the most difficult to resolve.

 

'The talks certainly kicked up a gear during the last round, and gained momentum, but there is still a long way to go, such as on services or tariffs for various goods,' the source said.

 

'It's not about a race to the finish – it's about driving home an ambitious deal that will benefit us both in the years and decades to come.'

 

After the ambitious timelines of former prime minister Boris Johnson slipped, current British leader Rishi Sunak has emphasised that his government will take time to strike the right deal.

 

In a sign of the political impetus in the talks, India's trade minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal both visited London during the round.

 

The Indian government has said the talks are at a critical stage, and that ministerial engagement during the round had helped to overcome obstacles in talks. The next round is expected to commence in August.

From Mainpuri’s tarkashi to Sambhal’s horn craft, Muzaffarnagar’s jaggery to Assam’s tea, gamusa and muga silk — the second edition of GI (geographical indication) fair at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, will bring an amalgamation of culture and uniqueness of India.

 

The five-day fair will be inaugurated by Union minister of state for textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh on Thursday.

 

GI-tagged crafts, organic foods, home décor, lifestyle, beauty and wellness products from across India will be on display. A GI tag is given to products that have distinct qualities and traditions linked to their place of origin. Over 440 products are GI tagged in India.

 

'One can expect to find Muzaffarnagar’s jaggery, Sambhal’s horn craft, Mainpuri’s tarkashi, teas, gamusa and muga silk from Assam, traditional moirang phee (garments) from Manipur, Jamnagar bandhani, Kutch shawls, and Surat’s zari craft from Gujarat,' said Dr Rakesh Kumar, chairman of India Expo Centre and Mart Limited (IEML).

 

Organised by the EPCH, the fair is supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) and Management and Geographical Indications Registry Department (MGIRD), controller general of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (PDTM).

 

Exhibitors from the several states and union territories of India will also be part of the fair. Some of these include the Tea and Spices Boards of India, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APFPEDA), Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO), Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council (UHHDC), Uttarakhand Organic Commodities Board (UOCB), Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST) and many others.

 

As per Dr Neeraj Khanna, vice-chairman of EPCH the exhibitors will share backgrounds and stories about their products, crafts, and hand skills. 'India GI Fair aims to connect these invaluable native products, aptly called ‘legal local’, to connoisseurs and clientele in India as well as the global market.'

 

Highlighting the fair as a great business opportunity, RK Verma, executive director of EPCH said, 'Here one can see and source India’s best treasures and traditions. The show offers buyers a great opportunity.'

Centre has decided to abolish the retaliatory tariff of 20 per cent on Washington apples by the end of September, The Economic Times (ET) has reported. The government imposed the tariff on the red and juicy variety of fruit around four years ago when President Trump was in power.

 

An import duty of 70 per cent is imposed on Washington apples, which is 20 percentage points more than the 50 per cent import duty applicable for the apples imported from Iran and Turkey. The higher duties resulted in a higher price for these apples leading to a decline in their imports.

 

As the prices of Washington apples are set to ease, there is a possibility of these apples flooding Indian markets, this has made domestic apple growers apprehensive of the development. Apple growers in the Kashmir valley fear that the reduction in import duties will have a negative impact on demand for their apples.

 

The India representative of the Washington Apple Commission, Sumit Saran was quoted in the ET report as saying, 'The government on June 22 had indicated to do away with the 20 per cent retaliatory import duty that was imposed during the Donald Trump regime, and it will become effective within 90 days.'

 

Washington apple growers have already started cultivating more apples to cater to the expected rise in demand from the Indian markets, the report said.

 

Before the imposition of a higher tariff on Washington apples, India imported seven million boxes with 22kg of apples in each box. Washington apples are imported between September and February, as the domestic produce comes to an end, the report cited Saran as saying.

Germany's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck on Thursday said India and Germany want to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase investments and collaboration among companies. He arrived on a three-day visit to India on Thursday.

 

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Indo-German Business Forum in New Delhi, Habeck also said China is Germany's biggest trading partner and a lot of German and European companies have invested in that country.

 

'It is a huge market and this goes the same for India and for the US for example. On the other hand we see that being dependent on only one market could be a risk and even more so if we see that economic issues are not politically neutral, that interests are interwoven in the economic relations,' he said.

 

He further said 'we can't decouple from China' but de-risking and diversification is of highest importance.

 

Diversification, he said means that other partnerships, the Indo-German partnership and other ones as well, become more and more important.

 

'My understanding also from the talks ahead with the Indian partners is, that goes the same for India. So there is a mutual interest from the German side and the Indian side to strengthen our cooperation and bringing more companies together, bringing more investments, creating a common trade sphere also as an answer that we are not becoming too dependent on only one country and from the German side that is also China,' he said.

 

He further said from the European side, the Russian aggression on Ukraine is unprecedented and it has destroyed the European peace order built after the second World War.

 

'I know that Europe is a little bit away from Asia of course, but on the other hand this is of such importance that I urge all democracies worldwide to be clear in language and political position that this is not acceptable,' Habeck said.

 

Referring to the price cap imposed on purchase of Russian crude oil, he urged countries 'not to use the sanctions system to give credit, more money to Russia that they can fuel their war in Ukraine'.

 

To a question regarding the situation in Manipur, Habeck said 'this is not on the table for me'.

 

He said he would be discussing economic matters during his meetings with the Indian side, besides the energy matters regarding sanctions and renewable energy.

The Indian government has prohibited export of non-basmati white rice, a Directorate General of Foreign Trade notification said on Thursday.

 

'Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)...is amended from free to prohibited,' the DGFT said in a notification.

 

However, it will allow the consignments of this rice to be exported under certain conditions like in cases where loading of this rice on the ship has commenced before this notification.

 

Earlier, news agency Bloomberg reported the Indian government is considering banning exports of most rice varieties. The ban may affect around 80 per cent of India's rice exports, can reduce rice prices within India but may impact global prices negatively.

 

Uneven distribution of rainfall in the key rice-growing areas of the country has pushed up prices of the grain by up to 20% in the last 10 days, ET reported earlier.

 

Prices of rice exported from Vietnam soared to their highest in more than a decade this week, on growing supply concerns due to the El Nino weather pattern and India taking this step, Reuters reported. Traders said information about India's possible move to curb exports also pushed prices higher. Traders expected prices to rise further if India were to limit exports.

 

Meanwhile, rice planting in India has gained momentum with the revival in monsoon rainfall over the past fortnight.

 

India - the world's biggest rice exporter - banned overseas shipments of broken rice and imposed a 20% duty on exports of various other grades in September 2022 amid concerns over production.

 

B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA) said a government move to increase paddy procurement price had been pushing up rates. 'But, the government is holding more stocks than needed for welfare schemes. There is no need to restrict exports,' he told Reuters.