SHIMLA-17 January, 2026
CM meets Union Minister for Commerce and Industries
- Strongly pleads for ban on Apple imports during peak season
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal at New Delhi late last evening and strongly pleaded for banning apple imports during the apple production months, July to November. He also urged for increasing apple duty to 100 percent in other months in order to discourage apple imports.
He requested for intervention of Centre for protecting the interests of about 2.5 lakh farmers engaged in apple cultivation and added that apple contributes 80 percent to the state's total fruit production. He said that it generates an annual income of 4500 crore.
Chief Minister has promptly taken up the issue of horticulturists who met him last week for redressal of their grievances. He also raised the matter with the Finance Minister and urged for speedy action.
The Chief Minister in his meeting with the Union Minister, apprised him about the concern of apple growers of the state regarding the reduction in import duty on apples. He said that apple imports have increased nearly two and a half times over the past ten years and added that this would increase the volume further due to the free trade agreement. He said that seasonal window for import of New Zealand apples is between April to August with 25 percent tariff, however for other months the previous 50 percent duty remains applicable .
He said that the various free trade agreements shall not only adversely affect the in season apple trade but also impact the price of apples stored in cold storage in the state and the off season trade.
Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ram Subhah Singh, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar were present in the meeting.
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Meeting with Union Ministers remained productive: CM
While talking to the media after his return from Delhi here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that his meetings with the central leaders in Delhi were fruitful enough.
He stated that the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured him that the issue of adopting a region-specific approach while finalizing fiscal devolution, grants and disaster management frameworks would be examined. He said this would help ensure that hill states like Himachal Pradesh receive adequate support to meet their developmental needs and disaster-resilience challenges.
The Chief Minister further stated that the Union Finance Minister also assured to positively consider the State’s request for extending financial support by allowing additional borrowing of two percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Sh. Sukhu said that the Nirmala Sitharaman gave a patient hearing to the concerns of the State’s orchardists as well. “I strongly raised the issue of the import of apples from New Zealand, which has adversely affected the interests of local orchardists,” the Chief Minister stated.
He said that the same issue was also raised with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The Minister assured that the Union Government would look into steps to stop apple imports during Himachal Pradesh’s peak production season, from July to November. He also said that the demand of hill states to not give import duty exemption on New Zealand apples between April and August would be considered sympathetically, as these imports were negatively affecting local apple growers.
Terming his meeting with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as fruitful, the Chief Minister, in response to a media query said that issues related to the State’s share in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) were discussed in detail. Issue pertaining to facilitate NoC from BBMB for allotment of land for an integrated office of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) was also taken up, for which the Union Minister has assured to do the needful soon. At present the corporation’s offices are functioning from multiple locations, with the corporate office in Shimla, the design office in Sundernagar, and the renewable energy wing in Hamirpur.