India Retaliates: Higher Duties on US Farm, Steel Products Come Into Effect

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India has announced higher import duties on a slew of farm products, steel and iron imported from the United States, the government announced, issuing a notification on Thursday.

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While a total of 29 products will be subjected to the increased tariff structure, motorcycles above 800 cc (such as Harley Davidson) have been excluded from the earlier list submitted to the World Trade Organization. With this announcement, India has joined the European Union and China in retaliatory action against President Donald Trump's tariff hikes on steel and aluminum.

As per the increased tariff rates, a 60% import duty would be levied on chickpeas and Bengal gram and 30% on lentils. The duty on boric acid and binders for foundry molds has been hiked to 7.5%, while the duty on domestic reagents to 10%. The duty on Artemia, a kind of shrimp, has been hiked to 15%. Almonds, walnuts and apples, too, come under heavy duty.

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Duties on flat-rolled products of stainless steel, other alloy steel, tube and pipe fittings and screws, bolts and rivets have also been revised.

The attempt to neutralize the impact of additional import duties of 25 percent and 10 percent imposed on Indian steel and aluminum respectively by the US has been taken by the Indian government, citing national security concerns.