The Minister of Textiles (MoT) had requested the Department of Revenue to enhance basic customs duty on twisted silk yarn and silk fabrics from existing 10 per cent to 15 per cent, in order to protect the domestic industry from cheap imports. The request was not acceded to. The information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. She also informed that the Export Promotion Mission as announced in the budget of 2014-15 is aimed at preparing a comprehensive policy for promoting foreign trade which will include deeper involvement of States in achieving targets to be fixed under the Foreign Trade Policy.
