Page 51 - ELT_1st July 2020_Vol 373_Part 1

2020 ] TIT-BITS A25

chemicals, steel, polyester yarn, copper and various yarns. This week, it recom-
mended anti-dumping duty on organic base aniline and antimicrobial agent
Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride imported from China.
India conducts Anti-dumping probes based on applications filed by do-
mestic manufacturers who show prima facie evidence of dumping of goods in the
country, claiming injury. As of December 31, 2019, there were definitive anti-
dumping measures in force against 92 Chinese products. Industry sources said
the Government has drawn up a prescriptive list of 300 products on which it can
impose restrictions and encourage local manufacturers to begin production.
[Source : The Economic Times, New Delhi, dated 19-6-2020]

DGFT issues warning about ‘fake’ websites
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has cautioned export-
ers and importers against “fake” websites and platforms which are allegedly
charging fees and collecting their confidential data.
[Source : The Indian Express, New Delhi, dated 15-6-2020]

New Digital Platform for Import-Export Code
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will launch a digital
platform on July 13. The first phase will cater to the Services related to the issu-
ance of Import Export Code (IEC), modification, amendment processes along
with a Chatbot (a virtual assistant). The IEC is mandatory for companies to start
a business that deals with import and export. The platform is aimed to help trad-
ers electronically file their application related to IEC, Various Exports Schemes
such as advance authorisation and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG),
monitoring the status of the application and raising queries among other services
related to the Foreign Trade policy.
[Source : The Economic Times, New Delhi, dated 26-6-2020]
New duty regime on table to reduce power imports

To discourage imports in the power equipment sector, India will set up a
new duty structure, R.K. Singh, Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable
Energy, said on 25-6-2020. He said solar gears coming into India would be levied
basic Customs duty of 20-40 per cent. There is currently no Customs duty on any
solar equipment import.
Close to 75 per cent of India’s solar power capacity is built on Chinese
solar modules. It is also one of the top-10 imported items from China. “It has
been proposed that a basic Customs duty of up to 25 per cent will be imposed on
modules in the first year. In the next year, it goes up to 40 per cent,” said Singh.
For solar cells, the basic Customs duty would be 15 per cent this year
and 20-30 per cent from next financial year.
For non-solar electric equipment, he said there would be a novel duty
structure that will hinder imports as there is sufficient domestic manufacturing
for the same. “For the conventional power industry, whatever is being made here
in India, I would consider levying duties where there is no duty. These will vary
as some States have ‘free-trade agreements’ with some countries for certain
products. So, the duty structure would be such that it encourages people to buy
domestic,” Singh said.
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