Srinagar, Sep 11 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the central government’s decision to lift additional duties on apples, walnuts, and almonds imported from the United States would devastate local growers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last week, Union Finance Ministry, in a notification announced the removal of additional duties on several US products including chickpeas, lentils (masur), apples, walnuts in shells, and fresh or dried almonds, as well as shelled almonds. The notification came a day before US President Joe Biden’s arrival in India for the G20 Summit.
The former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state hoped that the Prime Minister will reconsider the decision of removal of the duties.
“GOIs decision to remove additional duties on apples, walnuts & almonds will have a devastating effect on local growers in J&K already grappling with huge losses post 2019. Hope @PMOIndia reconsiders,” Mufti said on X.