Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti, President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed deep concern over government of India’s recent decision to eliminate additional duties on American apples, walnuts, and almonds.
As Mehbooba hoped for swift intervention from the Prime Minister’s office, she also said that the decision is set to have a devastating impact on local growers of JK who are already grappling with significant losses since 2019.
“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,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
This development comes on the heels of India’s decision to lift additional duties on approximately half a dozen American products, including chickpeas, lentils, as well as apples, walnuts in shells, and fresh or dried almonds. These duties were initially imposed in 2019 as a response to the United States’ decision to raise tariffs on specific steel and aluminum products.
Local farmers and growers in Kashmir are already facing significant challenges, including weather-related disruptions and market fluctuations, and this decision is yet another blow to their livelihoods. The removal of duties on American imports threatens to flood the Indian market with foreign produce, potentially overshadowing the high-quality offerings from the region.
