In a move to contain widening current account deficit (CAD) of the country, the government recently banned duty-free import of high-end flat screen plasma television and slapped 36.05 percent duty on its imports. At present, the government is concerned over the high CAD, which widened to a record high of 4.8 percent of GDP in the previous fiscal because of high gold imports and crude oil prices. Further, high CAD is also putting pressure on the domestic currency, which recently depreciated to a record high of over 64 per dollar.
The recent government move to rein in high CAD will also come as a relief for consumer electronics and appliances makers, which would boost demand for domestically produced sets. The Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) said that despite enhancing demand of the domestically produced flat plasma TV sets, the move would also generate more employment in the country and better tax collections. According to CEAMA, out of the total demand of about 8 million flat panels in the country, 3-3.5 million sets (around 40% of demand) would have been imported mostly either through free baggage allowances or concessional rate of duties under free trade agreement (FTA). The state exchequer was losing around Rs 750 crore owing to the import of TVs as hand baggage.
Further, CEAMA said that domestic producers have invested more than Rs 1,500 crore in setting up manufacturing facilities for flat panel TVs. At present, the capacity utilisation of the industry is less than 70 per cent. Meanwhile, the amended rules to ‘disallow import of flat panel’ will be effective from August 26.
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