India is emerging as a major manufacturer when it comes to laptops, tablets, and servers, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Arun Venkatraman, the US Additional Secretary for Commerce, emphasised the importance of meaningful consultation between governments and stakeholders before implementing changes to import policies. The United States is supportive of India's efforts to secure and enhance supply chain resilience but emphasises the necessity for India to clearly articulate its objectives in its import authorisation policy for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Several American companies, such as Tesla, Micron, and First Solar, are actively collaborating with the Indian government to contribute to India's growth story. It is crucial to prudently manage tariffs on essential inputs to avoid discouraging manufacturing.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, India imported personal computers, including laptops, worth $5.33 billion, a decrease from the $7.37 billion imported in the previous fiscal year (2021-22).

The Director of the IMF acknowledged India's remarkable progress in various sectors and emphasised that restricting imports of laptops and IT equipment might not be the most effective strategy. To fully realise its potential, India should concentrate on trade liberalisation and eliminate unnecessary restrictions.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is actively addressing industry concerns regarding import restrictions. MeitY has expressed its reluctance to impose unwarranted constraints that could lead to artificial scarcity. The Ministry is of the view that the current mechanisms adhere to WTO compliance standards, thereby reinforcing India's stance on the matter. They also stated that they will consider the possibility of imposing additional restrictions on laptops, tablets, and PCs after assessing import data up to September 30, 2024.