Eliminating the tariff in 80 percent goods traded between India and the ASEAN countries would be harmful for domestic industries, agriculture and fisheries, which have already been adversely affected by the economic slowdown, the politburo said.

'This would have an adverse impact on the economies of the states, particularly Kerala,' said the statement.

The CPI-M said the claim made by the government that excluding some items from the list of tariff concessions would address the sensitivities in agriculture and other sectors did not hold much water.

'The sharp cuts in import duties in the future would affect the livelihood of a very large number of people in the country,' the CPI-M said.