Industry & Economy
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Glass
`Exempt float glass from pref duties'
K.R. Srivats
New Delhi
,
June 20
The domestic float glass industry has urged the Commerce Ministry to exclude its products from any concessional or preferential Customs duties under the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
It has said that the cost differential on the energy front between India and the Gulf countries was extremely high and that any kind of preferential advantage would be "detrimental and disastrous" to the interests of Indian manufacturers.
Compared to energy cost of Rs 3,600 a tonne in India, the energy cost per tonne of float glass is estimated at Rs 800 (at subsidised rates) to Rs 1,500 (at market rates) in GCC countries.
Energy cost is the biggest component and a very significant one too in the total float glass cost. Most of the float glass manufacturers in India use furnace oil for melting the raw materials.
Industry sources said that Assocham has, on behalf of the domestic float glass manufacturers, made a representation to the Commerce Secretary, Mr S.N. Menon, in this regard.
The industry has contended that GCC countries subsidise their industry through subsidised energy costs.
It has also said that most of the members of the GCC are still not members of the WTO and that they are not amenable to the disciplines of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM).
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