Customs duty cuts, levy withdrawals an ongoing process, not linked to global events: FM Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the ongoing process of rationalizing customs duties and withdrawing the 6 per cent equalization levy, which began in 2023, is independent of any global events and will continue.
Sitharaman said customs duty reductions are part of India's broader objective to strengthen its manufacturing hub and boost battery and advanced chemistry capacities.
Replying to a debate on the Finance Bill 2025 in Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said, «Consistently, budget after budget, we are coming up with a reduction in duties so that India's aspiration for being a manufacturing hub and India's aspiration in building capacities for battery manufacturing and advanced chemistry is being supported. So, this is a consistent thing.»
«I heard quite a few members say, „Oh, the tariff war has started, so in response to the tariff announcements made by President Trump, here we are doing it. No, we have been doing it since 2023, steadily, every year. Newer items are being brought in, keeping in mind Atmanirbhar Bharat and, at the same time, Viksit Bharat's requirements, as well as simplifying the customs duty and compliance details,“ Sitharaman said.
»So, this is an ongoing process. It has nothing to do with today's global situation but is a process that will continue even in the future," she added.
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