Mumbai, Apr 29 (KNN) Government has maintained 'status quo' over the recommendation made by subcommittee of grade to levy of an additional import duty of 15 per cent in the form of a COVID Tax on polymers (raw material).

''We are pleased to inform you that we have been able to convince Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to maintain status quo and not to recommend any increase in import duty on polymers,'' a letter dated April 28th by All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA) said.

AIPMA president, Jagat Killawala has said that AIPMA, along with other industry associations, had been at the forefront while opposing recent representations made to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, calling for a levy of an additional import duty of 15 per cent in the form of a COVID Tax on polymers (raw material).

''The associations together, vociferously represented to the Government, logical justifications based on facts, and offered reasons why the demand for such a duty should not be accepted,'' Killawala said in his letter to the industry.

Killawala further stated in his letter that at a meeting held on April 15th, 2020, with MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, a request was made to restrict import of plastics finished goods from China to which Gadkari urged Commerce and Industry ministry seeking the same. 

''We are delighted to inform you that based on our request, Ministry of MSME has recommended Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to ban import of plastics finished goods from China,'' the letter added.

AIPMA, OPPI, Plexconcil, IPF Kolkatta, Maharashtra Plastics Manufacturers’ Association, Karnataka State Plastics Association, Gujarat State Plastics Manufacturers Association, Kerala Plastics Manufacturers association, Telangana and Andhra Plastics Manufacturers Association and The Tamil Nadu Plastics Manufacturers Association were the ten associations who represented the Indian plastics industry.