(a) the quantity and value of different types of textiles exported during each of the last three years and the current year, type-wise and country-wise;
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to boost textiles export;
(c) whether the export has been affected due to anti-dumping duty levied on different kinds of Indian textiles by European Union; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and steps taken to overcome this situation ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI V. DHANANJAY KUMAR)
(a) A statement showing quantities of value of different types of textiles exported during each of the last three years and the current year is annexed. Indian textiles are exported to more than 100 countries all over the world. However, major countries of exports are USA, the Member States of EU, Canada, Japan and Australia.
(b) The Government have been taking several steps from time to time to boost the textile exports to the foreign countries. Some of the important initiatives are as under:-
1) The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUF) has been made operational from 1-4-1999 to facilitate the modernisation and Upgradation of this sector so that it can become more competitive in international trade.
2) The exporters have been provided facility to import capital goods under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme at 5% concessional rate of duty.
3) Garment exporters have been allowed zero duty import of certain categories of trimmings & embellishments.
4) Government has recently launched Technology Mission for Cotton. One of the important ingredients of the Mission is to improve cotton processing facilities by upgrading/modernising the existing ginning and pressing factories.
5) Allowing foreign equity participation upto 100%, through automatic route, in the textile sector with certain exceptions.
6) Government has resolved the issue of tariff bindings with major trading partners i.e. EU and US. Pursuant to that, EU has agreed to release 8000 tonnes of exceptional flexibilities each year during the remaining years till 2004, i.e. till the end of textile quota regime.
7) National Institute for Fashion Technology (NIFT), its six branches and Apparel Training & Design Centres (ATDCs) are running various courses/programmes to meet skilled manpower requirements of textile industry in the field of design, merchandising and marketing.
8) The New Textile Policy has recently been announced to provide the policy direction for orderly and sustained development and growth of the textile industry in a harmonious way and to give a thrust to textile exports.
(c) & (d) Over the past few years, India`s four textile product categories, namely
(i) Unbleached Cotton Fabrics (UCF);
(ii) Cotton Type Bed linen ;
(iii) Polyester Textured Filament Yarn (PTFY) ; and
(iv) Polyester Staple Fibre (PSF); have been subjected to anti-dumping action by the European Commission (EC). While the EC did not impose definitive anti-dumping duties on UCF and PTFY, they imposed provisional/definitive anti-dumping duties on other two products.
India challenged the EC`s action to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on cotton type bed linen under Dispute Settlement mechanism of the WTO. The Panel has decided a few claims in favour of India and has asked the EU to bring its action in conformity with the Anti-Dumping Agreement. The EC has, however, appealed against the findings of the Panel before the Appellate Body.
As regards PSF, the EC has only imposed provisional anti-dumping duties. India has taken up the issue with Missions in EU countries to impress upon the EC to rescind provisional duties.
Annexure
A. Value of export of textile items during last three years and current year.
(Value in US$ in million ) SNo Item 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 April-October, 2000
1 Readymade Garment 4910.7 5268.4 5524.5 3073.8 2 Cotton Textiles (a+b+c) 4004.5 3899.5 4084.1 2721.9 a) Cotton Fabrics & Madeups(ML) 1951.2 2003.9 2104.3 1409.4 b) Cotton Fabrics & Madeups(HL) 475.0 477.3 436.6 467.5 c) Cotton Yarn 1578.3 1418.3 1543.2 845.0
3. Man-made Textiles 1013.2 968.4 1093.3 628.2
4. Wool & Wollens 305.1 272.0 264.3 175.1
5. Silk 243.3 246.2 294.0 173.9
Total (1-5) 10476.8 10654.5 11260.2 6772.9
B. Quantity of export of textile items during last three years and current year.
SNo Item 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 April-October 2000-2001 Unit 1 Readymade Garment 1314.20 1390.80 1441.30 778.10 Million pieces 2 Cotton Textiles (a+b+c) a) Cotton Fabrics 4364.14 4854.35 4949.39 1223.14 Million Sq. Mtrs. b) Cotton Yarn 485.44 486.66 554.95 303.72 Million Kgs. c) Cotton Madeups N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
3. Man-made Textiles 235790.32 254244.40 346970.13 175986.69 M.T.
4. Wool & Wollens N.A N.A. N.A. N.A.
5. Silk N.A. 363.34 408.03 235.84 Lakh sq. mtrs.