EEPC India suggests linking waterways with seaports at Board of Trade Meeting

KOLKATA : EEPC India forwarded some proposals like-connecting waterways with sea ports, widening of steel at the Export Parity Price scheme, and inclusion of steel under the purview Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) during the Board of Trade meeting held on Tuesday.

Representing the engineering sector, EEPC India Chairman Arun Kumar Garodia raised several demand- and supply-side issues faced by the exporters, especially MSME manufacturer-exporters.

While demand-side issues pertain to challenges associated with export markets requiring government negotiation with the respective countries, supply-side issues are related to local issues.

Referring to the solid logistics ecosystem in Europe, Garodia said that the government could consider connecting waterways with sea ports as it will significantly reduce transportation costs for moving cargo locally.

As regards demand-side issues pertaining to export markets, he said that the government may consider negotiating a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with Australia to make the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standard acceptable. Zero duty on some products, such as cold-finished bars and steel poles, for export to Australia was also proposed.

Garodia also raised the issue of the high duty on stainless steel products imposed by ASEAN nations, especially Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

As regards supply-side issues, the EEPC India Chairman suggested that all major steel producers should be included in the Steel at Export Parity Price scheme.

“The current ‘Steel at Export Parity Price’ is only applicable to four product categories, viz., HRC, CRC, wire rods, and alloy bars. Currently, only six primary steel producers are included in the Export Parity Price scheme. It has been suggested that all major steel producers should be included in the scheme. Also, apart from the four above-mentioned products, other steel products like billets, which are used by the MSME sector, need to be covered under the Export Parity Scheme,” Garodia said.

EEPC India has also sent a representation to the government from the e-bicycle industry for the introduction of separate HS codes for e-bicycles, as there are no separate codes.
Garodia also mentioned a long-pending request of engineering exporters to include steel under the purview of RoDTEP.