Srinagar, Dec 27 (PTI) PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday opposed any free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union and the US, saying a similar deal with New Zealand had hurt the apple growers of Kashmir by exposing them to "unfair imports".

Expressing concern that apple import duties may be diluted, she said flooding markets with imported apples risks destroying Jammu and Kashmir's horticulture backbone.

She called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the issue with the Centre to protect the fruit growers of the Valley.

"Deeply concerned that apple import duties may be diluted in FTAs with Europe, the US and Chile, repeating the damage done by the India-New Zealand FTA. A 25 per cent duty cut has already hurt Kashmir's apple growers, exposing them to unfair imports," Mehbooba said in a post on X.

The PDP president said that flooding the markets with imports "risks destroying Jammu and Kashmir's horticulture backbone that sustains 15 lakh families".

"This is not just about fruit but livelihoods. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister must urgently take this up with the Government of India to protect our growers," she added. PTI SSB NSD NSD

Free trade agreements risk diluting apple import duties, threatening Kashmir's horticulture, growers and families. Opposition argues that proposed free trade agreements with the EU, US and Chile risk diluting import duties on apples, repeating harm from the India-New Zealand FTA which cut a 25% duty and exposed Kashmir growers to unfair imports; the speaker urges the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister to take the issue up with the Government of India to protect horticulture livelihoods.