Altaf Thakur Lauds PM Modi for Excluding Apples from Zero-Duty List in India-UK Trade Pact

Altaf Thakur Lauds PM Modi for Excluding Apples from Zero-Duty List in India-UK Trade PactSays move will protect Kashmiri growers from unfair competition and market flooding

Srinagar, 26 July 2025: 

BJP J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur today hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to exclude apples from the zero-duty category in the recently negotiated India-UK trade agreement, calling it a farmer-first approach that will shield Kashmir’s horticulture sector from potential market disruption.

As part of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions with the United Kingdom, apples were deliberately kept out of the list of items eligible for zero import duty, thereby continuing tariff protection for India's domestic apple producers.

Calling the decision “visionary and rooted in ground realities,” Thakur said, “The exclusion of apples from the zero-tariff list is a masterstroke. It will prevent the dumping of foreign apples into Indian markets and protect the livelihood of lakhs of Kashmiri growers who depend on this sector.”

He pointed out that Kashmir’s apple industry has faced severe economic stress in recent years due to competition from imported varieties—often sold at lower prices, affecting local demand. The exclusion, he said, is a direct response to those concerns and a bold reaffirmation of the Modi government’s commitment to safeguarding Indian farmers.

Thakur also praised the larger contours of the India-UK trade deal, calling it a “win-win” that reflects a new era of strategic, equitable trade partnerships under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. “This is not just a trade agreement—it’s a statement that India will negotiate from a position of strength while keeping its farmers’ interests at the core,” he added.

Kashmir’s apple sector supports over 3.5 million people and contributes significantly to the Union Territory’s economy.