New Delhi, Mar 23: Faced with outcry of exporters for relief from the rupee rise, the government has set up a high-level committee to review the duty drawback rates at which export sector is given the tax refunds under different schemes.

Under the Duty Drawback Scheme, the Finance Ministry reimburses all central duties, including customs and central excise, paid on inputs and service tax paid on input services used in the manufacture of export goods.

The three-member committee, which has sought views of export promotion councils and major export houses, comprises Member, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, Saumitra Chaudhuri, Secretary in Finance Ministry S B Mohapatra and Chief Commissioner of Customs & Central Excise (retired) T R Rustagi.

The committee, which is expected to submit its report by May, will recommend duty drawback rates for 2008-09. The sources said the rates are likely to be finetuned considering changes in average rates of excise, customs and countervailing duty in the Budget on various export items.

Although the duty drawback review is an annual exercise, which follows the Budget proposals, the industry is hopeful of receiving some extra benefits this time given the extraordinary situation being faced by exports.

Major relief is also expected in the annual review of the foreign trade policy due to be unveiled by April 15.

Certain sectors like agri-products, textile, leather, sports goods may be given thrust in the policy review.