<h1>Trade protection for apples assured to balance growers' and consumers' interests while exploring tariff and GST adjustments.</h1> The minister pledged to consider enhanced protective measures for Kashmiri apples-noting existing minimum import price and import duty-and to consult the agriculture ministry and stakeholders; he also agreed to examine proposals to reduce GST on handicrafts and asked traders to submit details to the finance ministry, while stating that new free trade agreements will seek market access but protect domestic and regional interests.