In a major setback to the already struggling domestic textile industry, the government may remove 61 items, including 48 readymade garments, from the list of protected goods India has so far maintained under Safta, its free trade agreement with SAARC countries.
In a surprise announcement today, Anand Sharma, the Union commerce minister, said the government was considering removing the restriction on import of readymade garments from Bangladesh ahead of the prime minister’s visit on September 6-7. Bangladesh has been pitching for this for quite some time.
