Commerce Ministry Considering Licensing Barriers on Key Consumer Goods like Mobile Phones, Televisions, Food Articles and Textiles to check Imports from China and Vietnam

According to a news report carried out by the Time of India today, i.e. 20.04.2020, the Commerce Ministry is working very hard to slap the licensing barriers through DGFT under Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. The barriers may be violative of WTO guidelines but the current crisis in the world has created special circumstances to fulfill the long standing dream of the Commerce Ministry to control imports.

Study groups under the leadership of leading companies like Panasonic, Mahindra & Mahindra and other have been constituted to recommend these measures. (It is a moot point whether these actions will help industry which is already over protected by high tariff walls and 41 plus notified NTBs (Non-Tariff Barriers).

A well-oiled supply chain management system to facilitate Make in India may be an option).