(a) whether a huge import of tea/coffee has created problems for the domestic tea and coffee industry;
(b) if so, the quantum of tea and coffee imported during each of last three years;
(c) the details of problems being faced by tea/coffee industry/growers; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to solve the problems and to ensure that the interest of tea/coffee industry/growers would not be affected due to such import?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN)
(a) to (d) : Import of Tea/Coffee into India is negligible as compared to our production.
Import of Tea/Coffee during the last three years has been as under:-
(in mn.kgs)However, in order to protect the domestic tea and coffee industries from imports, Government has recently increased the basic customs duty on tea and coffee from 15% to 35%. Sale of tea in the Domestic Tariff Area by Export Oriented Units and units in the Export Processing Zones has been banned with effect from 20.7.2000.
Year 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
Tea 2.60 8.93 9.78 Coffee 0.96 2.00 2.40