Unfair trade practices by B'desh forced India to restrict import of jute

THE NEW RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY TO IMPORTS INTO INDIA OF BANGLADESH'S JUTE AND ALLIED FIBRE PRODUCTS ACROSS ALL LAND AND SEAPORTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NHAVA SHEVA SEAPORT IN MAHARASHTRA

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

India imposed restrictions on the import of jute and allied fibre products from Bangladesh in view of its “unfair trade” practices including circumvention of anti-dumping duty that harmed Indian farmers, people familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The new restrictions will apply to imports into India of Bangladesh's jute and allied fibre products across all land and seaports, with the exception of the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra.

The punitive measures were announced Friday and they came into effect immediately.

There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations after deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka and took shelter in India in August last year in the face of a massive anti-government protest.

Bangladesh must not be allowed to persist with “unfair trade” practices that harm the livelihood of Indian farmers and mill workers in a sector that forms the economic backbone of rural regions, said an official on condition of anonymity.