Apple of Discord: Kashmir fruit growers fear US imports will ruin livelihoods

Srinagar, Mar 11: The announcement of “Reciprocal Tariffs” by US President Donald Trump, set to take effect on April 2, has sent shockwaves through Kashmir Valley’s apple industry, with local growers fearing their livelihoods may soon be decimated by cheaper American imports.

The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGU), representing growers across 13 regions including Srinagar, Sopore, and Baramullah, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking protection against the impending tariff changes.

In a detailed letter to the Prime Minister, KVFGU president Bashir Ahmad Basheer wrote: “The horticulture industry is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, with over seven lakh families directly or indirectly dependent on it. The potential influx of cheaper Washington apples will significantly shrink the market space for domestic products.”

The letter emphasised that fruit growers in the region have already endured substantial hardships, including political unrest, the devastating floods of September 2014, and unpredictable weather events that have damaged orchards across the valley.

Basheer’s appeal specifically requested the Minister of Commerce and Industry to avoid negotiations on Trump’s reciprocal tariffs and instead push for the imposition of a 100% duty on Washington apples entering Indian markets.

“Government intervention is urgently needed to protect not only Kashmir’s apple industry but also those in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” the union stated in their letter. They warned that without protective measures, the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal growers across these regions would be threatened, requesting “immediate attention” to their concerns before the new tariff structure takes effect next month.

Industry experts caution that reduced tariffs could devastate local production and result in significant losses to the state exchequer. While India ranks among the world’s largest apple producers, imported apples have already created challenging market conditions for domestic growers.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has pushed back against Trump’s claims that India had agreed to reduce tariffs. According to reports, in a meeting with a parliamentary standing committee on Monday, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal clarified that “New Delhi had not made any commitment to the US on reducing tariffs” and that negotiations were still ongoing.

Barthwal told the committee that while India might consider reducing tariffs on certain items like nuts, it would protect sensitive sectors such as the dairy industry. He emphasized that India had requested time until September for negotiations, contradicting the April 2 deadline suggested by the Trump administration.

The Commerce Secretary also highlighted that any potential tariff reductions would be handled bilaterally rather than through multilateral agreements, referencing the joint statement from Prime Minister Modi’s February meeting with President Trump that outlined plans to “negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall of 2025.”

As the April deadline approaches, Kashmir’s apple growers remain in limbo, awaiting government intervention that could determine the future of one of the region’s most vital economic sectors.