Welfare gains of inward-looking: An ex-ante assessment of general equilibrium impacts of protectionist tariffs on India's edible oil imports

Import substitution policies are often inward-looking in trade deliberations. The present study is an attempt to quantify the likely benefits of protectionist tariff hikes enhancing domestic production and improving producer prices. It takes case edible oil imports India estimates price gains oilseed producers (farmers) processing industries may receive; increase oilseeds production, role technology attaining oilseeds/edible selfsufficiency. A three-sector open-economy Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model calibrated a 2017–18 SAM developed for this purpose. Tariff assumed different scenarios their impacts on prices simulated. Total Factor Productivity (TFP) derived (2005–18) (2014–18) sectors understand technological penetration there. vary between 2.4% 6% 1.2% 2.9% industries. enhance by 1.8% at maximum, 2.9%. existing TFP growth inadequate move towards self-sufficiency. This demands shift technology.