New Delhi, July 10 -- The import policy in case of Paper needs to be immediately changed from 'Free' to 'Restricted' and paper imports need be allowed only on the basis of Actual User License to halt the continued and indiscriminate import of paper from China and ASEAN, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has stated in a communication to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
According to the latest data released by DGCIS, Govt of India, total import of paper in India increased by 11% to 1.6 million tonnes in FY 2019-20. During the same period, imports from China went up by 14% to 289 thousand tonnes. Imports from ASEAN and South Korea under India-ASEAN FTA and India-Korea CEPA respectively, at nil import duty, went up by 18% and 9...