Planters seek moratorium on rubber imports

Udhagamandalam: The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi) has sought a moratorium on import of natural rubber for two years.
Natural rubber sector has been going through a phase of severe crisis due to the steep fall in prices for the last eight years, Upasi president AL RM Nagappan said in a letter to the ministry of commerce.
The spread of Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown turned out to be a double whammy as production came to a grinding halt, a press release from Upasi said. The present situation is threatening the very existence of the sector.
The association requested the government to introduce safeguard duty on natural rubber imports for three years post removal of import suspension.
Given the magnitude of the crisis, it has become extremely important for the government to take a decision to protect the sector, which provides livelihood to 1.3 million growers, the release added.