Srinagar, March 12 -- Panic has gripped apple growers in Kashmir over the tariff war between India and the US.

The policy shift, led by President Donald Trump, has sent alarm bells ringingamong the fruit growers. Industry fears that if India further reduces import duty on US apples, it will sound a death knell to local produce.

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGCDU) fear that the influx of cheaper US apples will severely impact their earnings, which have already been under strain for years due to various challenges.

"Slashing down import duty on Washington Apple have added additional miseries for valley based fruit growers and dealers who are of the fear that the reduction in the tariff on Washington Apple will signif...