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Surat – Mukesh Dalal, Lok Sabha MP for Surat, has raised concerns over a sharp rise in soybean oil imports entering India from China under the guise of Nepalese origin. He brought the issue to the government's attention during the ongoing budget session of parliament, raising it under Rule 377, and pointed out that China is exporting soybean oil to Nepal, from where it is subsequently sent on to India. The MP called for immediate intervention to protect the interests of Indian oil producers and soybean farmers.
The MP told reporters:
"In recent months, particularly in the last four months of the previous year, we have seen a significant increase in soybean oil imports into the country. Soybean oil imports from Nepal have risen 14-fold, while India's total soybean oil imports have grown by just 13%."
Dalal also noted that Nepal is only a marginal producer of the commodity and does not consume refined soybean oil itself. He added:
"Soybean oil is being exported from China to Nepal, and Nepalese traders, exploiting the customs duty exemption under the 2009 India-Nepal Trade Treaty, are re-exporting it to India. As a result, Indian soybean farmers are suffering losses."
Dalal concluded by saying:
"I have urged the government and parliament to look into this matter and take the necessary action to protect the interests of the country's farmers."
Source: DeshGujarat