US raises concerns with India over import of select IT hardware goods: report

The US said on Friday it has raised concerns with India over the import regime of certain information and communications technology products, including laptops and tablets, amid New Delhi’s decision to restrict inbound shipments of such products.

Currently, a license is required for importers of certain IT hardware goods in India.

The US National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 2024 also notes that US exporters have expressed concerns about the lack of prior consultation with stakeholders on these issues.

“The United States continues to monitor the implementation and raise concerns with India,” the report said.

The report claimed that the “opaque and unpredictable” nature of India’s application of quantitative restrictions has affected the ability of US exporters to access the market.

“The United States, along with other trading partners, continues to raise this issue at the WTO (World Trade Organization),” the report said, adding that the US government continues to pressure the Indian government, including through the TPF (Trade Policy Forum ). , to provide better access to the Indian dairy market.

The report also claimed that India does not have an overarching government procurement policy and as a result, government procurement practices and procedures vary between different ministries within the central government.

On intellectual property rights, the report said America and India continue to address a range of IP challenges faced by US companies in India, with a view to creating stronger IP protection and enforcement in India.

On the services sector, the report said India maintains an “uneven” playing field in the insurance market.

It added that the US has continued to raise concerns over informal and formal policies regarding electronic payment services, which appear to favor Indian domestic suppliers over foreign suppliers.

On telecom services, the report said the US continues to encourage India to adopt an ‘open skies’ satellite policy to give consumers the flexibility to select the satellite capacity provider that best suits their business needs and to increase market access for to promote foreign providers of satellite services.

Further talking about internet services in India, the report said, US companies have been subject to an increasing number of takedown requests since 2021 for content and user accounts related to issues that appear politically motivated.

“The IT (information technology) regulations impose a number of requirements that U.S. stakeholders have identified as concerning,” the report said.

It added that a “lack of transparency” continues to impact new and proposed legislation and regulations, as well as a lack of uniform notice and comment procedures and inconsistent notification of these measures to the WTO.

“This in turn hinders the ability of domestic and foreign stakeholders and foreign governments to provide input on new proposals or adapt to new requirements,” the report said.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Friday released the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), which provides a comprehensive overview of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment and US electronic commerce. in the main export markets.

This year’s NTE report has been published annually since 1985 and covers major foreign trade barriers in 59 markets.

On August 3 last year, the government announced import restrictions and then suddenly postponed the decision of August 4, 2023, which stated that the licensing regime would come into effect from November 1 following concerns from the sector.

Concerns were raised by electronics companies on the move.

Subsequently, on October 19 last year, the government tightened rules on restrictions on the import of laptops and computers, allowing importers to bring in IT hardware from abroad on the basis of a mere ‘authorization’ and specifying the quantity and value.

First print: March 30, 2024 | 12:22 pm IST