Parliamentarians meet Sitharaman to discuss Anti-Dumping Duty on Viscose

India’s viscose value chain is facing a deficit since the domestic supply cannot fulfil the demand.

Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu (Former Member of Parliament and critical figure in India’s textile and weaving industry) and a delegate of MPs from across the political parties spoke with Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, to act against the recent Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommendation of imposing anti-dumping duty (ADD) on Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF).

Further, another delegation of MPs and notable politicians, P R Natarajan (Tamil Nadu), Th M Shanmugam (Tamil Nadu), Neeraj Shekhar (Uttar Pradesh), Md Nadimul Haque (West Bengal), Dr Amee Yajnik (Gujarat), Jose K Mani (Kerala), K R Suresh Reddy (Telangana), Saumitra Khan (Bishnupur), Javed Ali Khan (Uttar Pradesh), G K Vasan (President, Tamil Maanila Congress, Tamil Nadu, Ex-MP), and Pradeep Gandhi (Chhattisgarh, Ex-MP), along with Rapolu signed a resolution letter elucidating the impact of ADD on Indian weaving and textile units. The letter was also shared with the relevant ministers and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s viscose value chain is facing a deficit since the domestic supply cannot fulfil the demand. Here, imports have become a source of relief for the downstream industry to procure quality raw materials at competitive prices especially when cotton prices were surging. However, with the re-imposition of the ADD on VSF, the entire value chain can be in a dire state as the imported fibre will cost 28 per cent more. This will significantly impact many Indian weavers and spinners who rely on viscose yarn production as their source of livelihood. Hence, the present need is to ensure quality raw materials that can be procured at competitive and affordable prices. The first step towards ensuring the same is the non-imposition of the ADD on VSF.

Noting the conversation with the minister, Rapolu said, “Viscose is poor people’s silk, cotton blended with viscose is the future. Anti-dumping duty will obstruct the Indian textiles industry’s future. It is time we think of how to ensure safeguards and provide a level playing field in the industry. We have conveyed this message to the hon’ble Finance Minister and hope to see critical steps being taken by the government”.

The MPs, along with Rapolu conveyed the urgency of the matter to Sitharaman. She understood the concerns raised and assured that necessary measures would be taken. This endeavour by the delegates aims to ensure a secure ecosystem for India’s weavers and textile industry. They hope the government and the Prime Minister will take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and prosperity of India’s weavers, who are the heart and soul of India’s textile value chain.