Govt will impose strong restriction on imports of products under 'others' category: Goyal

16 Jan 2020 Evaluate

Worried over rise in imports in the 'others' category, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has requested those importers to seek HSN code (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) or tariff code within 30 days from the foreign trade office, failing which the government would impose strong restrictions on their inbound shipments. He noted that in trade parlance, each product is categorised under an HSN code and it helps in systematic classification of goods across the globe.

The minister has stated that of $500 billion value of imports in 2018-19, the others’ group accounted for more than $100 billion. He said importers will have to approach the ministry to take a special licence for that import without which they cannot import any product in the others category. He also said ‘we will start the process to create a separate HSN code if it is not fitting into any existing code or amend the existing code... Very soon, I shall be coming out with serious consequences. The consequences could be a higher duty on products which come under others category.’

Goyal also asked the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to bring a trade notice immediately and make it an absolute ultimatum either the import duty will be increased exorbitantly or a special duty imposed. He said this step will help the government assess what is being imported into the country. He pointed out that no imports will be allowed without the HSN code into the country, henceforth, there must be zero tolerance for substandard products and services from industry and consumers.

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