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per cent to 500 per cent on import of   fourth time which speaks the language
                                          Chinese goods. It has also demanded   and mindset of China.
                                          the Government to give a special pack-  The fact very fact of imposing trade
                                          age to traders and small industries to   barriers on Chinese imports has not
                                          produce quality goods at a competi-  been evaluated seriously which is
                                          tive price so that our dependency on   resulting into greater influx of Chi-
                                          the Chinese goods is minimized. It can   nese material to India. Beside tariff, the
                                          easily be done since whatever material   Government needs to improve vigi-
                                          is imported from China do not require   lance at Indian ports as most of the
                                          any much technique and our domestic   imports  from China  are  arriving
                                          producers are comfortable to produce   undervalued and the valuation officer
                                          same goods with good quality.   at the Ports do not take trouble to cross
                                            Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary Gen-  check the declared value. Further many
                                          eral of CAIT told, “Since last one month   times, the nomenclature shown in
                                          we have sent several representations to   the bill is entirely different from the
                                          Government and hope that those are   actual material.
                                          being seriously considered as China has   This fact needs to be looked into
                                          emerged one of the most prominent   seriously and preventive steps should
                                          enemies of India by supporting Paki-  be taken by the Government to ensure
                                          stan. As such the minimum import of   that imports from China should be on
                                          Chinese goods will wreck the econom-  actual value basis and custom duty and
                                          ic structure of China as India is World’s   IGST should be levied at actual value. If
                                          largest market for China. Our exports   it happens, automatically the Chinese
                                          are very low in comparison to imports   goods will become higher than Indian
                                          from China. This equation needs to be   goods and a fair competition can be
                                          equated and in all cases our exports to   held. It is well within the authority of
                                                                          the Government and it must execute
                                                                          this authority and break the nexus
         said  RS Sachdeva, President, Punjab  In the wake of China       between officials and importers. It is
         Chapter, PHD Chamber of Commerce    constantly supporting        also to be ensured that imports from
         and Industry.                                                    China should not be forwarded to grey
           While trade ties with Pakistan has  Pakistan in every form,    market.
         been undermined on grounds of po-  the Confederation of             Both countries, though understand
         litical animosity, the same has not been                         the urgent need to restore peace on
         replicated in case of another neigh-  All India Traders has      two sides of the Line-of-Control, yet a
         bour and trade partner, China who                                solution remains a pipe dream because
         has been supporting Pakistan in its  raised the issue of         political interests are paramount. The
         anti-India pursuits in the international    boycotting Chinese   military escalation between the two
         political arena. While Indian traders                            nuclear-armed countries post Pulwa-
         have vehemently opposed China dump- products                     ma attacks and airstrikes conducted by
         ing its goods in Indian market; there has                        India on terror camps in Pakistan has
         always been a lukewarm response from   China must increase.”     caused an immense damage, both in
         government on this issue.          He added that the trade volume   terms of casualities and diplomatic ties.
           China in a very clandestine man-  between India and China needs to be   Amidst the rhetoric and mutual con-
         ner has been successful in market-  brought down to a greater extent. We   demnation of political elites, the pre-
         ing its goods to Indian market in large   need to educate traders and consumers   dicament of those who are on fringes
         quantity and being a cheaper product,   through a national campaign that us-  and politically trivial has been relegat-
         though may not be of quality standards   age of Chinese goods are not in favour   ed to the insignificant level. Withdrawal
         attract the consumers. In the wake of   of our Country and its security as long   of MFN status to Pakistan, while com-
         China constantly supporting Pakistan   as China continue its support to Paki-  pletely understandable, considering
         in every form, the Confederation of   stan which is being used by Pak to con-  the circumstances has major implica-
         All India Traders (CAIT) has raised the   duct terror activities in India. The veto   tions on trade between the neighboring
         issue of boycotting Chinese products.   of China in case of declaring Masood   countries.
         The CAIT has urged the Government   Azhar as global terrorist is one such live
         to levy a custom duty ranging from 300   example and this has happened for the    letters@tehelka.com



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