A Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC says, India can double its apparel exports in three years by implementing free trade agreements with the US, UK, European Union, Australia and Canada. Currently, the Indian apparel industry has a duty disadvantage of 9.6 per cent in the EU market as compared with competitors like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Hence, there is an urgent need to have a level playing field in terms of market access and margin of preference in our biggest global market and to rectify the distortion that we are suffering, Sakthivel said.

He added that an agreement with the US will have a significant impact on India’s apparel exports to America as the average tariff in the US is 12.5 per cent, and the peak tariff on certain items like man-made fiber based apparel, which India is promoting, is 28 per cent. The US is India’s major destination for apparel exports with over 27 per cent share. The council also pleaded for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Canada and Australia.