Dhaka – Exporters have urged India to withdraw the anti-dumping duty on jute for exporting to the country, as the move would affect the Bangladeshi jute industry severely.They also urged the Indian government to review the investigation and withdraw the decision of imposing anti-dumping duty on jute.
They made the request at a seminar titled “anti-dumping duty on imports of jute products from Bangladesh by India: challenges and potential way out” organized by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in a city hotel on Tuesday evening.
President of Jute Products Importers Association (JPIA) of India Sandeep Saraff who is leading a delegation said: “If the move is implemented, this will create a severe impact on jute industry and trade on short term and long term basis.”
Against a petition filed by Indian Jute Mills Association, Directorate General of Anti Dumping, India (DGAD) initiated an investigation in October 2015 on export of jute products from Bangladesh to India and recommended imposition of 25-30% anti-dumping duty on jute goods.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said imposing anti-dumping duty on “our jute export to India is unexpected and unfortunate”.
He said the government is diplomatically negotiating the issue with the Indian counterpart to resolve the problem.
“I hope the Indian government will immediately remove the anti-dumping duty on our jute products,” said the minister.
Jute export to India during the period of July-April of fiscal 2015-16 increased about 33 per cent.
State minister for textiles and jute Mirza Azam, MP termed the imposition of anti-dumping duty on “our export of jute to India is surprising”.
He said this crisis is temporary and “we hope soon it will be solved as the government is negotiating with the Indian government”.
Presenting the keynote paper, DCCI President Hossain Khaled said due to anti-dumping duty imposed by Indian government about $170 million of export of Jute goods will be challenged and almost $1 billion jute export market will be destabilized.
He requested the Ministry of Finance of India to review the investigation and withdraw the imposition of anti-dumping duty until a further review study is conducted.
President of International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman chaired the seminar. In his speech, Mahbubur Rahman urged the government of Bangladesh and India to find an alternative and mutually agreeable and industry-friendly solution shunning the proposed anti-dumping duty.
Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association Ahmed Hossain, Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association Mohammad Sams-uz Zoha, Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Vice President of Jute Products Importers Association Rishi Jalan and Member of Bangladesh Tariff Commission Rashedul Hasan also spoke on the seminar. – Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
