EU, US question India on restricting apple import to one shipping port

By Kirtika Suneja

NEW DELHI: India’s recent decision to allow imports of apples into the country through just the Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai has come in for criticism from exporters including developed economies such as the United States and the European Union. The US and the EU, along with New Zealand, Chile and Australia, questioned India’s move at the recent meeting of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Import Licensing.

The commerce ministry had on September 14 issued orders to limit apple imports to a single port to give relief to the domestic apple growers who have been hit by imported apples flooding the market.

As per a WTO release, the EU said it was “very concerned”, noting that members ought to prevent trade distortion under their WTO commitments.

“It asked India what will happen to imported apples that are brought through other ports and requested further information about the rationale for the measure,” the release said.

The US said the measure has so far ‘had an impact on trade’ and took issue over the lack of a comment period before the new policy was implemented.

India replied by saying that the measure does not fall within the definition of an import licensing measure under the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures and thus is not “fit for discussion under this committee”.

India imported fresh apples worth $230.80 million in 2014-15 and $149.60 million between April and July this year.