NEW DELHI: India has not breached any international covenant by imposing 10% import duty on smartphones and is ready for any dispute that may arise at the World Trade Organization ( WTO ), said government officials. The 10% basic customs duty ( BCD ) on smartphone imports came into effect from July 1, as the goods and services tax ( GST ) was rolled out, and is aimed at protecting local manufacturing . So, there’s no obligation and, hence, no violation if we impose any duty on these products,” said a commerce ministry official. The A-G said the pact was signed in 1996, when smartphones did not exist, and hence these cannot be given zero-duty status. Components used in 31 other parts and base stations, used by telecom network providers to transmit signals, will also be exempt from customs duty.

Source: Economic Times July 02, 2017 19:07 UTC