Govt plans customs duty hike on host of products amid tensions with China

The government is considering hiking customs duty on a number of products amid ongoing border tensions with China.

Discussion is on over hike in duties on goods imported from China, a source said.

Although nothing has been finalised as yet, the focus would be on cutting down import of non-essential items, the source said.

About 14 per cent of India's total imports are from China. Between April 2019-February 2020, India has imported goods worth USD 62.4 billion, while exports to the neighbouring country stood at USD 15.5 billion.

The main goods imported from China include clocks and watches, musical instruments, toys, sports goods, furniture, mattresses, plastics, electrical machinery, electronic equipments, chemicals, iron and steel items, fertiliser, mineral fuel and metals.

India has time and again raised concerns over widening trade deficit with China, which stood at about USD 47 billion during April-February 2019-20.

The move to raise duty assumes significance as the government is working on ways to boost local manufacturing and promote Make in India.