India Puts a ban to Jute Imports by Bangladesh through Land and Sea Ports

India has also blocked the import of jute in and out through the seaport as well as land ports with Bangladesh over the issue of subsidization of the jute products that is forcefully affecting the Indian jute sector. The new curbs, albeit not including the Nhava Sheva seaport in Mumbai, are set to safeguard the local industry, particularly the Indian farmers and workers employed in the jute industry line of business.

Context

In India, the imports of jute with Bangladesh by the land and sea ports are blocked to safeguard the domestic production of jute. Curbs, which are to be imposed forthwith, will block entry of jute Bangladesh to India except at the port of Nhava Sheva.

Key Points

• Manufacturing of Restrictions: India has blocked the entry of jute and allied products produced in Bangladesh through all land and sea ports, with exception of Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai because this had adverse effects on the jute industry in the country.

• Rationale behind the Curbs: The move is as a result of the dumping of subsidized jute products (yarn, fibre, and bags among others) of Bangladesh that have adversely affected Indian producers. These imports had not been prevented in the past by lowering the anti-dumping duties that had been placed on them by the Indians.

• Indian Industry Effect: The introduction of imported jute facing subsidies and tariffs has had the unfortunate impact of crushing the Indian jute industry incorporating more than four lakhs of workers in organized jute mills and other factories besides cultivators in jute growing states such as West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.

• Exemption to Nepal and Bhutan: Nepal and Bhutan are the two countries that show the benefits of exemption because the jute of Bangladesh will not affect Nepal and Bhutan but the re-exports to India is prohibited to avoid bypassing the ban.

• Coverage of the Order: This order has writs over flax tow and waste, jute and other bast fiber, single yarn, woven fabric and other textile bast fibers. India is also adamant to allow Bangladesh to use the third countries to reach the Indian jute market.

Conclusion

India has taken an issue on banning import of jute manufactured in Bangladesh, protecting its own jute industry, to save the lives of farmers and laborers in India. The restrictions, although not applicable to the exports of Bangladesh to its neighbor countries, are there to make sure that unfair trade is kept to a minimum so as to avoid distortion in the market.