Srinagar, September 11: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has voiced her concerns regarding the Government of India’s decision to remove additional duties on several American products, including apples, walnuts, and almonds, stating that this move could have a devastating impact on the economy of the Union Territory. She shared her perspective on this government decision via her social media platform, specifically on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Mehbooba Mufti expressed, “The GOI’s decision to remove additional duties on apples, walnuts, and almonds will have a devastating effect on local growers in J&K, who are already grappling with huge losses since 2019. I hope @PMOIndia reconsiders.”

India had initially imposed these additional duties in 2019 as a response to the United States’ decision to raise tariffs on specific steel and aluminum products. These retaliatory duties had initially been levied on 28 US products.

On September 5, the Ministry of Finance issued a notification announcing the removal of these duties on various products, including chickpeas, lentils (masur), apples, walnuts in shells, fresh or dried almonds, as well as shelled almonds.