Border trade: Traders to boycott cement imports

In a setback to the Indo-Pak trade which takes place through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border, the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CICCI), which had been fighting against the unilateral hike in storage and weighment charges by Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), on Tuesday decided to stop imports of cement and initiate ban on further imports if the rates are not slashed.

In a setback to the Indo-Pak trade which takes place through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border, the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CICCI), which had been fighting against the unilateral hike in storage and weighment charges by Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), on Tuesday decided to stop imports of cement and initiate ban on further imports if the rates are not slashed.

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In a press statement, the CICCI said, "Cement traders have decided to stop imports from today and continue the ban till LPAI brings the charges back to the original level. Gypsum traders have also informed their suppliers in Pakistan to stop deliveries from October 10 onwards in protest against the exorbitant increase in charges."

Chamber members in a meeting today blamed the LPAI for the current impasse, and expressed displeasure over the enhanced charges, which would economically hit international trade, and the failure of the authorities to consult the traders.

The body urged the LPAI and the Central Warehousing Corporation to review their decision and withdraw the hike, and warned that the chamber would continue the boycott if their demands were not met.