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The Commerce and Industry Ministry in its Budget recommendations to the Finance Ministry has proposed rationalisation of basic customs or import duty on over 300 items from different sectors, including furniture, chemicals, rubber, coated paper and paper boards, they said.
For new pneumatic tyres of rubber, it has proposed to hike customs duty to 40 per cent from the current 10-15 per cent.
Similarly, on footwear and related products, the ministry has suggested an increase in duty to 35 per cent from the current 25 per cent.
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The ministry has proposed to increase import duty on wooden furniture to 30 per cent from the current 20 per cent.
For coated paper, paper boards and hand made papers, it has suggested doubling the duty to 20 per cent.
However, it has asked for the removal of import duty on waste paper and wood pulp, which is currently at 10 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.
The paper industry has expressed concerns about cheap imports and a surge in inbound shipments.
“This has a significant negative impact on coated paper manufacturing industry. Increase in duty will help the domestic industry to compete with global players. It would also protect local manufacturers and ensure sustained growth of the domestic paper industry,” one of the sources said.
For wood, metal and plastic toys, the ministry has suggested an increase in import duty to up to 100 per cent from the current 20 per cent.
Import of these toys increased to USD 304 million in 2018-19 from USD 281.82 million in 2017-18 from China and Hong Kong.