The announcement assumes significance as the government announced on August 4 that an importer would need a license for the import of these goods from November 1, with a view to boosting domestic manufacturing and cutting imports from countries like China
The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) put the import of IT hardware, including laptops, PCs and servers, under the restricted category last month, calling for a licence. The notification, passed on August 3, was amended a day later, deferring implementation to November 1, giving the industry three months to recalibrate. The order, however, has led to fears of supply disruptions and price increases once the restrictions kick in.