SRTEPC urges govt to include yarns & fabrics in RoSL

The state taxes and duties are neither included in the ambit of GST nor rebated, said SRTEPC adding that these charges embedded especially on yarns and fabrics exports are around 6 per cent of FOB value of exports.

In the meeting with the minister, council members discuss various issues being faced by the MMF textile segment regarding export promotion incentives, GST, MEIS Scheme, etc.

Chairman Narain Aggrawal informed the minister that it has been a real challenge for the MMF textile segment, to cope up with the GST regime. Being under inverted duty structure, the MMF textile trade and industry has been receiving step-motherly treatment as compared to other fibres segments. "Over 14 months have passed since the new tax regime was implemented in India, but unfortunately, there are various anomalies in the GST system that has been affecting the MMF textile segment."

On priority basis, the government should consider various issues including refund of Input tax credit availed on input services, inclusion of MMF textile products falling under equal or lower rate of GST, refund of IGST on capital goods, removal of double taxation on ocean freight, immediate refund of accumulated Input Tax credit and inclusion of MMF textile products falling under equal or lower rate of GST. Also, exclude import of capital goods from GST as it is adversely affecting investment in the textile sector and defeating the purpose of the 'Make in India' initiative of the government.

Ronak Rughani, vice-chairman, SRTEPC pressed on the issue of ITC lapse mentioned by the government. The lapse of unutilised credit will be a huge setback for the textile exporters as this provision is against the basic settled principle that the right validly earned cannot be extinguished. He informed the minister that the lapsed amount is leading huge losses in the books of accounts as the same has now become cost of business for the exporters.

The recent US sanctions on Chinese imports of fibres, yarns and other textiles will make these items highly prone to dump in India by China. To set off this situation China is considering further increase in its subsidies on the textile exports which will lead to further escalate the imports into India. In view of this recent Chinese development, SRTEPC requested the minister for incentivising the textile sector to increase competitiveness of the Indian textile industry globally.

"MEIS scheme gives much needed cushion for increasing competitive edge of the MMF textiles that have been facing tough price competition from countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc. The governments of the South Asian countries incentivise exports through refund of duties as high as 17-21 per cent apart from giving multi-layer subsidies," said Rughani urging the minister that rewards under MEIS Scheme need to be extended to all MMF textile items including fibre, yarns, fabrics and made-ups and MEIS reward rates should be increased to 5 per cent for all the MMF textile tariff lines. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India