(a) whether the Government have taken away the import restriction on natural rubber and decided to import natural rubber;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government of Kerala has submitted any proposal in this regard;
(d) if so, whether the Government have taken any measures to protect the rubber producers due to this act;
(e) if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether there is any plan to increase the import duty on rubber; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI S.B. MOOKHERJEE)
(a) & (b): Import of Natural Rubber has been made free w.e.f. from 1.4.2001 as part of the removal of Quantitative Restrictions from large number of items for imports. Under the Exim Policy, exporters are entitled to import inputs duty free for the manufacture of items for export under the Advance Licence Scheme as per the Standard Input Output Norms (SION) fixed for a particular item. Certain restrictions had been put in place for import of Natural Rubber duty free under this scheme. The Public Notices and the Policy Circulars imposing such restrictions have been set aside by the Bombay High Court. The SLP filed by the Government against this order was not admitted by the Supreme Court. As a result, restrictions imposed on import of Natural Rubber under the Advance Licence Scheme stand removed.
(c), (d) & (e): Yes Sir. A representation has been received from CM, Kerala. The Government is keenly monitoring the price as well as import of Natural Rubber in the country and will take appropriate action, if there is an undue surge in the import of Natural Rubber.
(f) & (g): There is no proposal at present to increase the import duty on rubber. The WTO bound rate of duty on Natural Rubber is 25% and at present, the same is being levied.