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Small tanners seek export duty cuts

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Nov. 25

THE Tamil Nadu Leather Tanners Exporters and Importers Association (TALTEIA) wants the Union Government to free the export of semi-finished East-India (EI) tanned and crust leather and remove the export duty on it.

Addressing newspersons, the President of TALTEIA, Mr N. Abdul Rahim, said that all the efforts made by them for free trade was being thwarted by the large product manufacturers in the country. TALTEIA represents the interests of the small tanners in the State.

According to him, the product industry does not consume the entire production, and by pressuring the Government not to permit free trade they force the tanners to sell their skins at a lower price and long credit duration.

The Union Government had removed the regulation for the export of EI tanned skins on January 15, but imposed an export duty of 15 per cent. Later in October, export of various skins was allowed with a duty ranging from 15 to 60 per cent.

The Indian semi-finished leathers are finding it difficult to compete with those from the neighbouring countries since they did not have an export duty, he said. Due to this, 50 per cent of the small tanners in the State have gone out of business, throwi ng more than a lakh employees out of jobs.

The association plans to meet officials in the Union Commerce and Finance Ministries to represent its case. The small tanners' efforts to represent their case through the leather industry bodies such as the Council for Leather Exports and the All India S kin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association have not met with much success since they are dominated by the larger players, according to Mr Rahim.