(a) whether the Union Government propose to raise the import duties on rubber,
coconut and other cash crops to the maximum level in view of the lifting of quantitative
restrictions on imports;
(b) whether the Union Government also propose to negotiate with the WTO for
declaration of coir as agricultural product instead of industrial product;
(c) if so, the time by which coir is likely to be declared as agricultural product; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)
(a): There is no proposal at present to raise the import duty on these items.
(b)&(c): In its initial negotiating proposals submitted to the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) for the mandated negotiations under the Agreement on Agriculture, India has
stressed the need for the rationalization of the product coverage of the Agreement by
including primary agricultural commodities like coir. The said mandated negotiations are
under way.
(d): Question does not arise.