Tiles, ceramic import curbs relaxed again
View(s):In another policy U-turn, the prevailing import restriction on tiles and ceramic products has been relaxed once again after the controversial move of removing and re–enforcing the ban within less than two days last month.
Less than 24 hours after relaxing these import restrictions, the Import and Export Control Department on February 2 has issued new operating instructions to suspend the relevant Gazette notification and continue import limits until further notice. However action has been taken this week to remove restrictions allowing the importation of these ceramic ware including tiles subject to special CESS with amicable agreement of importers and local manufacturers, Finance Ministry sources said.
This agreement was reached at a March 1 meeting chaired by Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle with representatives of Tile Importers Association along with the local manufacturers to discuss a way forward to both facilitate a healthy level of imports while protecting local manufacturers, a senior official of the ministry said.
The meeting was successfully concluded with all parties agreeing to revise import duty and impose a new CESS of Rs. 490 per square meter of tiles instead of the currently applicable CESS based on the value of tiles. (BS)