
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking to impose anti-dumping duty on polyester spun yarn which is imported from members of ASEAN.
The MP from the Aam Aadmi party mentioned in his letter that he has been receiving through various forums and platforms, appeals to impose anti-dumping duty on the import of polyester spun yarn under the ASEAN FTA which aims to provide a level playing field for Indian manufacturers.
The MP said that domestic manufacturers of polyester spun yarn have to pay an import duty of 5.5 per cent, making them uncompetitive against the imported goods.
“It is concerning because PSY import by India has increased by 943 per cent during the past five years and imports from Vietnam alone have increased by 88 times”, he pointed out.
He wrote that 40 per cent of the country’s demand for man-made fibres is taken care of by the textile industry and it also employs more than 6.5 lakh workers.
He further urged the Finance Minister to impose the duty since it has affected the performance of the industry by distorting the operating environment. He also suggested that imports of man-made fibre should be made free of import duty which will help the industry.
“I hope that something concrete will come out in the forthcoming Union Budget to be presented by FM on February 1 in Parliament,” he said.