Are dates from Pakistan ending up duty-free in India via UAE?

India has raised concerns over dates coming from the UAE as imports jumped significantly along with silver products and platinum alloy.

The Indian government is investigating whether dry fruit is entering the country from a third country like Pakistan, meaning the UAE is flouting the rules of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

According to a report by the Economic Times, officials have flagged concerns that the UAE is exporting dates from third countries including Pakistan to India.

What is the issue?

The concerns were raised during the second joint committee (JC) meeting under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in the UAE on October 14.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

The Indian delegation was led by Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Ajay Bhadoo and Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy of the UAE, Juma Al Kait co-chaired from the UAE side.

“Indian side raised the issue related to the recent surge in imports of silver products, platinum alloy and dry dates and urged UAE to verify compliance to the rules of origin norms and ensure that the rules are not circumvented,” the ministry said.

Imports skyrocket 

The effective import duty on fresh, soft, and hard dates ranges from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. However, under the CEPA agreement, these imports are exempt from duties. Since 2019, New Delhi has imposed a 200 per cent duty on all direct imports from Pakistan.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner, with USD 83.65 billion in bilateral trade in 2023-24.

India’s gold and silver imports from UAE have skyrocketed 210 per cent to $10.7 billion in 2023-24. India allows 7 per cent tariffs, or customs duty concessions, on import of unlimited quantities of silver and a 1 per cent concession on 160 metric tonnes of gold.

Meanwhile, UAE has addressed India’s concern saying that it will look into the matter.

With inputs from PTI