Kerala vegetables & fruits exporters protest against GST on freight; may halt deliveries from Nov 25

Kochi, Nov 23 (KNN) From November 25, exports of vegetables and fruits from Kerala will be stopped as decided by the All Kerala Vegetable and Fruits Exporters Association.

Union government's decision to impose GST on exports and the unaffordable freight charges are the two main reasons for the decision.

From October 1, on air freight the government had issued an order imposing 18% GST and 5% GST on ocean freight.

Seeking to remove the GST on exports, the Kerala Exporters Forum had submitted memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

However no decision has been taken in this regard, said Secretary Munshid Ali. 

In October it was for the first time in two years that export from India had recorded a 16.6% decline.

Due to high freight charges and GST, exporters complained that they are unable to compete with products from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  (KNN Bureau)