Selective ICT import duty cut: Commerce department, MeitY divided

India, a signatory to the ITA, is required to eliminate tariffs on a range of products, including mobile handsets

The Department of Commerce and the Ministries of Communications and IT are divided over any country-specific reduction in the 20 per cent import tariff on electronics items, including mobile phones, people aware of the matter said.

While the commerce department is keen on exploring tariff concessions on technology products with respect to proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union (EU), other ministries are reluctant to relax their protectionist stance.
 

The push for import-duty reduction comes against the backdrop of the dispute between India and the EU at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both sides are trying to resolve that.