US-based trade bodies, including Apple, Google, Lenovo, Dell and HP among others, have urged the US to push India to retract its IT import restrictions, and to hold a formal consultation with industry stakeholders. The Indian government has placed laptops, tablets and other electronics under the restricted category, meaning companies will need additional licences to bring IT products into the country. Such licensing measures were announced with no prior consultation, said the trade bodies.
Import Restriction: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has placed electronics items such as laptops, tablets, all-in-one-personal computers, small form factor computers and servers under the restricted imports category, thereby requiring companies to seek an additional licence to bring these goods into the country.
Separately, the government is also said to be reviewing other high-import products such as urea, antibiotics, turbo-jets, lithium-ion accumulators, refined copper, machines and mechanical appliances, solar and photovoltaic cells, aluminium scrap, sunflower seed oil, and cashew nuts.
Online platforms such as Amazon running its Independence Day sales saw a surge in laptop sales following the government announcement, industry executives said. The sales momentum is continuing even on Monday, retailers and brands said.