Govt restricts import of colour TV sets

NEW DELHI: The government has restricted the import of colour televisions to check their influx from China and encourage domestic manufacturing, two officials aware of the matter said. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notification late on Thursday, amending import policy for the televisions from free to restricted category.

This is the latest in a series of actions aimed at China that India has taken since 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15.

India on June 29 banned 59, mostly Chinese, mobile applications like Tiktok, calling them “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”. On July 23, it said bidders from the countries India shares its land borders with would need prior registration and security clearances for government contracts. The move was seen as part of India’s efforts to counter China. India in April issued a similar directive on screening foreign investment from neighbouring countries.

“Import of colour TV is now in the restricted category, which would necessitate an importer to seek import license from the government. The main purpose of this move is to check the influx of China TVS,” one of the officials said requesting anonymity. India has a ~15,000 crore TV industry and over 36% of TVS are imported primarily from China and South East Asia, he added.

A second official said some

Chinese TV sets were routed through a third country with which India has a free trade agreement (FTA). “This move will also curb such illegal trade,” he said.

Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and managing partner at consultancy firm DVS Advisors LLP, said: “... The procedural aspects of acquiring this permit [licence], however, would be tedious considering the stakes involved. There shall be transition provisions in place for import orders already being given or goods in transit.”