In an effort to encourage businesses like Apple to boost domestic production, India is anticipated to restrict the import of laptops, tablets, and personal computers after January.
If carried out, this strategy has the potential to upend a $8–10 billion industry and change the dynamics of India’s highly import-dependent IT hardware market.
Following company opposition and U.S. pressure, a similar import restriction plan was canceled last year. Since then, India has kept an eye on imports using a system that is about to expire this year and has requested that businesses apply for new import permits for the next year.
The government believes it has given the industry enough time to adjust. Next week, New Delhi will start holding talks with all parties. If necessary, it can cause a few months to pass before the import limits are put into effect.
Companies will need to obtain prior permits for their shipments under a new import authorization system being developed by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
After completing an automated online registration process, laptop importers are permitted to bring in an unlimited number of machines under the current regime.
