Dumping duty on Chinese Cloth import shall not make much difference for MSMEs; duties on apparels & garments would: Expert

Bhiwadi, Maharashtra, Dec 12 (KNN) The Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has said that the government is working on a policy to stem the flow of cheap cloth into India and is even considering imposing a “dumping duty” on cloth imported from China.

“I cannot make any announcements about it here but I will move the policy in the Parliament. As the Parliament is currently in session, I cannot talk in detail about it,” she said on Saturday.

Irani visited several power looms in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra and spoke to workers promising to revive the once booming industry.

“MSMEs are mostly using indigenously domestic fabric, not Chinese fabric. So I don’t see much impact, it will not have much effect. But if they are imposing on the apparels and garments then it shall help,” Animesh Saxena, Managing Director, Neetee Clothing told KNN.

BJP MP from Bhiwandi, Kapil Patil, who was part of Irani’s delegation added, “The government is working on changing the existing policy where cloth is imported from China and instead impose a dumping duty on imports. We want her to boost exports and stop Chinese cloth” he said.

Patil added that Irani also promised to resolve the hike in electricity prices.

“I hope she can do something to make electricity affordable to us. Once the bills start coming in, there will be trouble in Bhiwandi,” he said.

Irani also spoke to the employees at the loom and assured them that their bank accounts will be opened soon as she will speak to the district magistrate and chiefs of all banks to quickly open account. (KNN/ RAS)