Rubber-Sharing the Cake

THE unending controversy involving the rubber growers and rubber consuming industries over imports of natural rubber is once again on. But while the opposition to imports has been relatively subdued, representatives of industry have not merely been pressing hard for imports of anywhere between 30,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes, which is their estimate of the shortfall, before the year is out, but also want the STC, the canalising agency, to sell the imported rubber at prices considerably lower than the ruling market prices. Indeed, if the industry would have its way, the STC would quietly vanish from the scene, allowing individual users to import their requirements under open general licence.