The Union Finance Ministry recent proposal to impose anti-dumping duty on import of Full Draw Yarn (FDY) from other countries has got the weavers of Surat up in arms against the proposal. The yarn is imported from countries like China, Thailand and Taiwan.

The Textile Commissioner, Mr Joshi, who was on a two day visit to the city, was handed over a memondarum, in which, the weavers are alleging that the imposition of anti-dumping duty on FDY would help the domestic manufacturers to monopolize the domestic yarn markets and in turn raise the prices.

The Finance Ministry is yet to enforce the proposal and has given all concerned parties to forward their objections and concerns within 40 days as per the existing laws. fibre2fashion.com spoke to Mr Arun Jariwala, Chairman of Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI), to understand the opposition of weavers, to the proposal.

Mr Jariwala categorically stated, “There is already an anti-dumping duty on existing POY imports. Full drawn Polyester yarn (Filament / Silk Yarn) is manufactured in finer denier, and now as summer approaches, demand for this fabric will increase. Looking to that, if anti-dumping duty is imposed on yarn, indigenous yarn manufacturers will raise the prices”.

He added by saying, “This would result in high cost of yarn and low cost of finished product which will ultimately result in rise in import of the finer denier fabric, to the detriment of the Surat weaving industry”.