CNS Canada — India is introducing immediate 30 per cent tariffs on imports of chickpeas and lentils, the country’s government announced Thursday.
The import duties follow the 50 per cent tariff on yellow peas India introduced in November, and come as part of ongoing efforts by India to support farmers.
“Production of chana (chickpeas) and masoor (lentils) are expected to be high during the forthcoming Rabi season, and cheap imports, if allowed unabated, are likely to adversely affect the interest of the farmers,” the Indian finance ministry said in a news release, adding that the import duties were imposed in order to protect farmers.
Reports out of India show domestic chickpea prices already rose by four per cent in response to the announcement.
India imported 57,400 tonnes of Canadian lentils from licensed elevators during the first three months of the current crop year, according to Canadian Grain Commission data. That’s down from 170,100 tonnes during the same time period the previous year.
No Canadian chickpea sales to India have been reported yet this marketing year. — CNS Canada
