11 December2024, New Delhi: In a recent parliamentary session, Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, confirmed that apple imports into India continue to be subject to a 50% customs duty, the maximum rate allowed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines. The announcement came in response to questions from Parliament member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi of Srinagar, who sought clarity on how reduced import duties on U.S. apples might impact Kashmir’s apple growers and whether the government would consider adjusting the duty to safeguard domestic producers.
The minister highlighted that the earlier 70% duty on U.S. apple imports, imposed as a retaliatory measure, had been lifted following the resolution of disputes under the WTO framework. Despite this adjustment, the government has maintained a significant customs duty of 50% to protect the interests of local apple cultivators.
Data from the Commerce Department shows fluctuations in apple import values over recent years. Import values decreased sharply from ₹36,237 lakh ($491.37 million) in 2019-20 to ₹4,117 lakh ($55.83 million) in 2022-23. However, they rebounded to ₹17,716 lakh ($240.07 million) in 2023-24. For the six-month period ending September 2024, apple imports were valued at ₹17,902 lakh ($242.73 million).
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