Textiles industry wants uniform GST for whole value change

The consensus in the non-handloom part of the organised textile industry seems to be for a uniform goods and services tax (GST) rate. The GST Council meets this Saturday to discuss it. 

At present, the sector doesn’t have fibre neutrality in taxes. Cotton fibre has no excise; synthetic fibre has 12.5 per cent; fabric has nil. Branded garments have the option of a low rate if no input credit is claimed. The average is five to eight per cent. 

Says S C Kapur, director-general, Association of Synthetic Fibre Industry, “A 12 per cent GST is advisable for the whole value