Apparel exports face duty disadvantage

New Delhi: India faces competition from countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that enjoy preferential or duty-free access to key markets like the European Union, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said on Friday.

"Apparel exports from competing countries enjoy zero/preferential access to European Union whereas India faces a duty disadvantage.

Besides Bangladesh and Vietnam have a large and productive labour force," Irani said.