"The government should withdraw freight subsidy on import of cement, however, this facility should remain intact on already opened L/Cs," the sources quoted the ministry as suggesting in its proposal. The Ministry of Finance had suggested that the government should have to choose one option as subsidies on both imports and exports cannot be in place at the same time, the sources quoted the Finance Ministry as saying.
The Ministry of Industries was of the view that it has considered all the circumstances, which include price situation in different parts of the country, capacity utilisation and the loss inflicted to the local industry due to subsidised import and recommended to the government that in order to protect the hard won cement export market, exemptions of Central Excise Duty (CED), GST, and duty-drawback on exported cement may be restored.
At present, the import of cement is allowed at zero customs duty and zero withholding tax from all countries, including India. A freight subsidy of Rs 60 per 50-kg bag of imported cement is also being given to the importers to stabilise cement prices in the country. The government claims that cement prices have stabilised in the local market as a result of steps taken by the government which also include cement imported to the tune of 104,147 tonnes against the expected quantity of 217,891 tonnes for which L/Cs have been opened.
