Strongly welcoming the review of ASEAN-India FTA agreed upon by ASEAN countries on India’s request, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has requested the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry to put paper & paperboard in the negative list so as to provide a level-playing field for Indian paper manufacturers who have been bearing the brunt of indiscriminate import of cheap paper, especially writing, printing paper, from ASEAN countries.
“Domestic paper mills have been severely impacted due to imports flooding into the country from ASEAN countries at nil basic customs duty. Several smaller paper mills, and even a few large ones, have been forced to shutdown their operations due to commercial unviability. There is adequate production capacity in the country which is currently under-utilised,” said IPMA president AS Mehta.
