Expressing concerns over the potential impact of the European Union's proposed carbon tax, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that India intends to raise the issue with the 27-nation strong bloc as well as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Speaking at the annual conclave of the India Steel Association (ISA), he mentioned that India is seeking to collaborate with like-minded countries to strengthen its case and ensure that the interests of Indian exporters are not adversely affected.
Reiterating India's stance on not accepting unfair taxes, Goyal pointed out that many developed countries have yet to provide financial and technical support to their developing counterparts, which is essential for a smooth transition to green technologies.
In view of the recent smog engulfing Delhi NCR and several parts of North India, the Minister suggested that using steel structures in construction could help reduce the spread of air pollution. He added that such a move might mitigate the pollution generated by construction activities, which are also considered one of the contributing factors to air pollution.
Urging the steel sector to report any irrational imports of locally available steel to the Commerce Ministry, he urged the industry to establish higher quality benchmarks and implement more Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for its products. This, he explained, would serve Indian customers with better products and help prevent the influx of cheaper imports.
Goyal mentioned that India is on track to achieve a steel production target of 300 million tonnes (MT) and called on the Indian industry to engage in steel scrap recycling.
He also emphasised the importance of providing feedback to the auto industry to expedite the recycling of old vehicles. He highlighted that removing polluting vehicles from the roads could stimulate higher demand and lead to the production of more efficient vehicles.
Additonally, He assured the steel industry that the government is working for better access for the Indian steel industry in the developed world via FTAs (free trade agreements).
(Edited by : Anand Singha)
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