The Hindu Business Line : Rubber dealers federation call off strike

Kochi April 14 The Indian Rubber Dealers Federation has decided to withdraw from the proposed `rubber hartal' called on Monday in view of the clarification issued by the Union Commence Ministry that there was no move to import natural rubber by the Centre.

Mr George Valy, President, and Mr N. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of the Federation, said in a statement that the Union Commerce Ministry had informed that the Indian side had not made any commitment on reduction of tariff to Thailand for rubber import when the FTA with that country was negotiated recently.

The Thailand side had only requested market access for natural rubber, the Ministry had clarified in the communication, they said.

Natural rubber

The federation had strongly objected to any import duty reduction in the case of natural rubber in 2005 when the Commerce Ministry began trade negotiations with South Asian countries.

The Government subsequently put rubber under negative list.

Duty reduction

Recently when the FTA with Thailand was negotiated it was reported in the media that the Commerce Ministry had agreed for a substantial reduction in the import duty for rubber.

The federation vehemently opposed the move and apprised the Ministry on the disastrous consequences on one million rubber growers in Kerala if free access to Indian market was allowed.

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