Govt may scrap import duty on sugar

Govt may scrap import duty on sugar to counter rise in prices, say officials. Cabient discussed the issue today, but announcement likely only after clearance from Election Commission.

The decision likely to be made public tomorrow after getting EC's opinion.

The import duty exemption would be available for both raw sugar and refined sugar, say officials. There will be no re-export obligation on those importing sugar duty-free.

This is a break from the past, say officials.

Import duty on refined (white) sugar now stands at 60%. Earlier, the government had allowed mills to import raw sugar duty free, subject to export obligation.