The United States emphasized its ongoing scrutiny of India’s implementation of restrictions on imports of specific information and communications technology (ICT) products, including laptops, tablets, and servers, in its National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 2024.
The report also underscored concerns regarding the increasing number of takedown requests targeting content and user accounts of U.S. firms since 2021, which appear to be politically motivated.
The complexity of India’s customs system, coupled with administrative discretion, was highlighted in the report. Additionally, ambiguity in definitions concerning brand ownership, date markings, non-retail containers, and multi-unit packaging for alcoholic beverages was noted. Concerns were raised by U.S. exporters regarding the lack of prior stakeholder consultations concerning IT imports.
India’s imposition of restrictions on certain ICT imports last August, mandating a valid import license for each product, was mentioned in the report. U.S. stakeholders reported significant challenges in obtaining import licenses for remanufactured goods, citing onerous application requirements, quantity limitations on specific parts, and prolonged delays in the licensing process.
Regarding certain chemical products subject to quality control orders (QCOs), the USTR expressed industry concerns and urged India to issue clear guidelines to customs authorities for both QCO exemptions and implementation to prevent unnecessary import delays.
The absence of a comprehensive government procurement policy in India, resulting in variations in procurement practices across different ministries within the central government, was highlighted. Barriers to digital trade, such as data storage requirements hindering service suppliers’ ability to detect fraud and ensure network security, were also noted.
The report pointed out deficiencies in transparency regarding new and proposed laws and regulations, as well as inconsistent notification of these measures to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
