Tech Giants Samsung, Apple, And HP Face Import Halt In India Amidst Government Restrictions

New Delhi, 4th August 2023: Samsung, Apple, and HP, three major PC makers, have halted the import of laptops and tablets to India due to the government’s recent decision to impose restrictions on inbound shipments without a license. As the festive season approaches, these tech companies are actively engaging with the government to obtain the necessary licenses for their imports.

The government’s move to promote domestic manufacturing resulted in the imposition of import restrictions on laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, ultra-small form factor computers, and servers, effective immediately. This measure is aimed at reducing imports from countries like China.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), a part of the commerce and industry ministry responsible for handling exports and imports, issued a notification stating that exemptions from import licensing Up to 20 items per consignment are at your disposal, catering to various purposes such as research and development, testing, benchmarking, evaluation, repair and return, and product development.

The products falling under the restricted category will require a license or permission from the government for import. However, there is an exemption available for the import of a single laptop, tablet, all-in-one personal computer, or ultra-small form factor computer, even those purchased from e-commerce portals or received through post or courier. Importers must still pay the applicable duty for these exempted items.