17 October 2023 | Foreign Trade

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is concerned about India’s plan to impose an import management system for laptops, tablets, and personal computers beginning November 1, 2023. India moved away from “licences” and toward a less restrictive framework. Although it is happy with the delay, the United States is worried about the sudden introduction. Fearing possible trade barriers, China, Taiwan, and South Korea want clarification on the system’s specifications and implementation schedule.

Before, the industry objected to licensing requirements that the DGFT imposed. Authorizations for imports will initially be granted based on industry demand; quota restrictions may be implemented later. There are cited security issues with IT hardware, particularly Chinese hardware.

The government, which seeks to create a trusted digital ecosystem, emphasises that the WTO cannot get involved in import security standards. More information will soon be released by the DGFT.