A Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has hailed the government‘s decision to remove anti-dumping duty (ADD) on viscose staple fibre (VSF). In January this year, AEPC along with other organizations in the VSF value chain had appealed to Prime Minister to remove ADD on VSF to address issues related to VSF spun yarn availability and price to prevent job losses and halting of production across the VSF textile value chain.

The removal of protectionist tariffs on VSF will align domestic VSF prices with the global VSF prices making the entire Indian VSF textile value chain globally competitive. It will boost production and exports of these products, says Sakthivel. The decision will also provide a fillip to the man-made fiber (MMF) sector, adds Smriti Irani, Former Textiles Minister, who now holds the women and child development portfolio.