After laptops, cameras and printers could also face import curbs

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

cameras, printers, hard disks, parts of telephonic and telegraphic devices, said people aware of the matter. The local demand for these products is substantial and their heavy imports need immediate intervention to push domestic production opportunities, they said. The imports of these goods crossed $10.08 billion in FY23.

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. India's total merchandise imports rose 16.5% in FY23 to $714 billion, swelling the country's current account deficit to 2% of GDP in FY23 from 1.2% of GDP in the preceding fiscal year. The government is also keeping a watch on shipments of the 250 products covered by the Information Technology Agreement-1 or ITA-1 on which India can't levy import duties.

«The focus is on those end products in the ITA-1 whose bulk imports are a cause of concern,» said an official. The ITA-1 products cover many high-technology goods including integrated circuits, computers, telecom equipment, semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing, amplifiers and testing equipment, software, and scientific instruments. «Chips and displays are the most costly products and there is a need to encourage their manufacturing.

Medical devices is another sector,» said an official. Imports of printers, keyboards, hard discs, and scanners are also being studied to see if there is a local manufacturing possibility. «It seems the government wants to regulate the import of goods that come duty-free under the ITA-1.