The Indian Newspaper Society has urged the government to scrap the five per cent Customs duty on newsprint to allow publishers to manage their operational costs more effectively. In a statement, the INS said a combination of factors affecting the price and availability of newsprint -- geopolitical uncertainties, logistics, rupee depreciation and Customs duty -- have created a formidable burden for publishers in the country. The escalations in the conflict in West Asia, as well as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have significantly affected the global supply chain, including for newsprint, the organisation said in its statement issued here on Monday. The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) urgently appealed to the government to reconsider the imposition of five per cent Customs duty on newsprint. "This measure, if withdrawn, would provide much-needed relief to the print media industry, allowing publishers to manage their operational costs more effectively and ensure the continued
Govt must avoid protectionist measures
Sri Lanka is facing its all-time worst foreign exchange crisis after the pandemic hit the nation's earnings from tourism and remittances
The commerce ministry's investigation arm DGTR has recommended the imposition of antidumping duty on newsprint
Newsprint cost has jumped in the last three months due to demand-supply imbalance post pandemic
The total consumption of standard newsprint in India is 2.5 million tonnes and the indigenous mills have a capacity of 1 million tonnes only, the INS had said
In the probe, DGTR will determine the existence, degree and effect of alleged dumping on domestic manufacturers
Data shows during April to September 2019, imports rose to $706 million from $602 million during same period a year ago
Earlier this month, the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) asked the government to withdraw the 10 per cent customs duty imposed on newsprint
In the beginning of 2017, paper companies did not undertake price hikes
DGFT notification restricting import of the material through actual users stayed by Calcutta High Court