Centre plans duty cuts, other steps to soften virus impact

NEW DELHI: The government is expected to announce a set of measures to tackle possible disruption in supply of drugs and other manufactured goods due to the coronavirus outbreak in China.

The solutions may include a reduction in customs duty on some essential inputs, apart from speeding up port clearances.

On Tuesday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman met industry players and instructed her team of officers to discuss the issues with ministries concerned for a brainstorming on Wednesday.

“The issues raised will be informed to them (other departments) and then they will apply their mind and come back tomorrow afternoon so that we talk it among ourselves so that possible solutions can be found, post which we will hopefully have a discussion with the PMO. Speedily, some response will be announced at the earliest,” Sitharaman said.