Government’s policy of extending preferential tariff treatment to paper and paperboard under the free trade agreements (FTAs) has led to large quantities of paper being imported in the country at significantly lower costs to the disadvantage of domestic industry.
In its pre-budget submission, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has stated that both under India-ASEAN FTA and India-Korea CEPA, basic customs duty on paper and paperboard has been progressively reduced, and currently stands at 0%.