Major tech and IT giants have urged the US government to “use every available” forum to make India reconsider the implementation of import restriction policy on IT hardware.
Tech giants based out of the USA, such as Google, Apple, Dell, Hp and Lenovo, wants to the US to push India not to impose the import restrictions. Tablets, laptops and other electronics products are now under the restricted category under the new import restriction policy leading to the need for additional licenses to import IT products. The trade bodies complained that these new licensing measures were announced with no prior consultation.
Eight American trade bodies like Semiconductor Industry Association, Information Technology Industry Council and United States Council for Internation Business penned down their concerns on 15th August to the US Trade Representative to “use every available forum of engagement with the government of India to ensure that its measures in the ICT sector are consistent with India’s international trade obligations and commitments”.
The letter mentioned the concerns about the reliability towards India as a trade and supply chain partner. The need for a new import license violates India’s commitments as a WTO member. This, in turn may affect the smooth functioning of international supply chains resulting in increased prices of IT products.
