Apple growers hail PM’s stand on US tariffs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that India will not compromise on the interests of farmers, livestock keepers and fishermen has enthused apple growers of the state.

Gripped by the fearing that India would reduce import duty on Washington apple under pressure from US President Donald Trump, the apple growers have welcomed the PM’s remarks, saying his stand would save the apple economy from severe damage.

“We welcome the PM’s statement. It will go a long way in protecting the interests of farmers and rural economy,” said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Growers Association. Chauhan added India should impose retaliatory tariff on US products, just like it did in 2018. “India had increased tariff on Washington apple from 50 to 70 per cent in 2018 in retaliation to the US increasing duty on Indian products like steel and aluminum,” said Chauhan.

Lauding the PM’s stand, Sohan Thakur, president of Seb Utpadak Sangh, said, “The speculation was rife that India had agreed to reduce the import duty on apple to 15%. It would have caused severe damage to the apple economy,” he said. The Progressive Growers Association president Lokinder Bisht said the government should not succumb to US pressure.