'Russia Is Immune': Putin Aides Mock EU's New Sanctions; ‘Ukraine's Rout Will...,' Vows Medvedev
Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Alphabet hit with EU antitrust complaint by six digital rights groups
Synopsis Six digital rights groups filed an EU antitrust complaint against Alphabet, alleging it violated the Digital Markets Act by making it difficult to uninstall pre-installed Android apps.
NDTV
38 minutes ago
- NDTV
India Secures Zero Duty On 95% Farm Goods Exports In UK Trade Deal
New Delhi: India has protected the interests of domestic farmers by excluding dairy products, edible oils, and apples in the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK while securing zero duties on 95 per cent of agriculture and processed food items. No tariff concession has been allowed on oats as well in the FTA, which was signed on Thursday. On the other hand, Indian staples like turmeric, pepper, and cardamom; processed goods like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses; and marine products such as shrimp and tuna will enjoy duty-free access in the UK market. In agriculture, the UK imports USD 37.52 billion worth of products, but imports from India are just USD 811 million. "India's farmers are poised to be the biggest winners of the FTA, which unlocks premium UK markets for their produce, matching or exceeding the benefits already enjoyed by exporters from Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU nations," a commerce ministry official said. More than 95 per cent of agricultural and processed food tariff lines will attract zero duties on fruits, vegetables, cereals, pickles, spice mixes, fruit pulps, and ready-to-eat meals and processed foods. This will lead to a reduction in the landed cost of these Indian products in the UK market, boosting India's export and enhancing the income of domestic farmers. "Duty-free access is expected to increase agri exports by over 20 per cent in the next three years, contributing to India's goal of USD 100 billion agri-exports by 2030," the official said. The FTA would also give a boost to exports of emerging products such as jackfruits, millets, and organic herbs. With regard to the benefits for the blue economy, the FTA provides for zero-duty access for 99 per cent of exports, including shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds. These are currently taxed in the range of 4.2 - 8.5 per cent. "Despite the UK's USD 5.4 billion marine import market, India's share remains at just 2.25 per cent, underscoring a significant untapped export opportunity," the official pointed out. The FTA would also help India's export of high-margin branded products like coffee, spices, beverages, and processed food. Stating that the UK consumes 1.7 per cent of India's coffee, the official said duty-free access will help Indian instant coffee compete with EU exporters like Germany and Spain. The UK is a major buyer of Indian tea (5.6 per cent), while spices have a 2.9 per cent share. The zero tariffs will help enhance the country's market share. "Indian craft drinks like feni from Goa, artisanal wines from Nashik, and toddy from Kerala will now enjoy Geographical Indication (GI) protection and shelf space in high-end UK retail and hospitality chains," the official said. The FTA is set to help India's food processing sector. India exports USD 14.07 billion of processed agricultural and food products globally per year. The UK imports USD 50.68 billion worth of processed items, but Indian products make up for a mere USD 309.5 million. Farmers of various states in the country are likely to benefit from the FTA. The major beneficiaries are Maharashtra (grapes, onions), Gujarat (groundnut, cotton), Punjab and Haryana (basmati rice), Kerala (spices), and the NE states (horticulture).
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Ex-Tripura CM Manik Sarkar trains guns at RSS, BJP over voter revision issue, says ‘they are trying to unleash attacks on Constitution'
Amid demands from the ruling camp for revision of voter rolls in Tripura on the lines of the recent exercise in Bihar, former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar Thursday said the RSS-BJP combine was trying to unleash attacks on the Constitution and revise it with an anti-Muslim, anti-women, and anti-Dalit mindset. Sarkar said, 'The common people are not saying this; only RSS-BJP is saying. If anyone speaks Bengali, then they are called Bangladeshis… Muslim community people, if they speak in their mother tongue, Bengali, how can they become Bangladeshi?' When asked about his take on the smart electricity meter issue, he said, 'The BJP in Bengal protested against the installation of smart meters by the Trinamool Congress. The same BJP is trying to install smart meters in Tripura. There was no problem with the existing machines. Why, all of a sudden, was the smart meter needed? It is clear that some capitalists are making the machines, and that's why they have been forcibly trying to replace the existing meters. And people are receiving inflated power bills after the installation of smart meters. The protest by the people against smart meters is, therefore, relevant.' On Thursday, Sarkar also participated in a march to the Governor's House organised by the Fishermen Union. The rally culminated near Circuit House where Sarkar and other Left leaders addressed the gathering. Later, a six-member delegation met the Governor and submitted a memorandum comprising 13 demands. Terming the 13-point charter of demands as 'relevant, logical, and timely,' Sarkar emphasised safeguarding the interests of the fishermen community by attaining self-sufficiency in fish production. 'Even though importing fish may meet the demands of people here, crores of money are going outside the state to import these items. We have to bring the import to zero in phases…' said Sarkar. 'We appealed to the Governor to draw the attention of the chief minister towards these demands,' Sarkar added.
