Importers delay customs clearance of US dry fruit
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Uncertainty over the proposed India-US trade deal has resulted in dry fruit importers holding back customs clearance of walnut, almond and other nut shipments from the US, anticipating a steep cut of about 50% in import duties.Importers are looking to avoid losses they could incur if duties are reduced after they clear goods at current rates, but their move could worsen supply disruptions, industry insiders said.Dry fruit supplies had already been hit by the halt in Afghan imports due to the closure of the Wagah border since the Operation Sindoor strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.India imposes a 100% tariff on US walnuts - both kernels and those in shells - and a specific duty of ₹35 per kilogram on almonds in shell and ₹100/kg on almond kernels. US President Donald Trump often cites this to support his claim that India is a high tariff country.The industry expects India to halve these duties as part of the deal being negotiated."Two commodities that are likely to see duty reduction in the proposed US-India trade deal are walnuts and almonds," said Ravindra Mehta, founding member at Nuts and Dry Fruits Council of India, or NDFC(I)."Many importers are postponing filing the bill of entry by a few days and opting to pay the penalty for delayed clearance, which is much smaller than the losses they may face in case the duties are reduced," he said.
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