In a strategic move to align with an agreement with the United States, India's Central government has amended customs duties on several imports, including blueberries and cranberries. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) announced these adjustments on February 20, marking a significant step towards resolving a longstanding dispute with the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The CBIC's notification highlighted the elimination of import duties on fresh, dried, or frozen cranberries, and blueberries will now face a 10% customs duty. Prepared or preserved cranberries see a reduction to 5%, though preserved blueberries remain at a 10% duty.
This policy shift is part of India's broader strategy to lower tariffs on fresh and processed food items, stemming from a bilateral agreement with the US aimed at settling disputes at the WTO. This development follows a September 2023 announcement by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai detailing the resolution of the last outstanding WTO dispute between India and the US, which included India's commitment to reduce tariffs on specific US farm produce. This agreement, reached during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US in June, has been hailed as a milestone in US-India trade relations, resolving six pending WTO disputes.
Source: moneycontrol.com