Tea Board turns down proposal to allow imports at lower duty Demand for imports was made after tea production dropped 13 percent during January-October this year to 1.03 billion kg against 1.18 billion kg in the year-ago period. December 28, 2020 / 05:37 PM IST The Indian Tea Board has rejected a proposal to allow imports of tea at a lower customs duty after the production dropped due to the coronavirus outbreak and auction prices increased sharply earlier this year. “Due to COVID-19, tea production had dropped, while consumption was more. Auction prices increased by over 50 percent. In view of the prices rising, traders approached the commerce ministry for importing tea at a lower import duty,” Tea Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Deputy Chairman Pramod Kumar Sahoo said.