NEW DELHI September 25 2023 : India will delay an import license for laptops and tablets, two government officials said. It’s a U-turn after industry and U.S. government complaints about the move, which could hit Apple , Samsung and others.
The plan will be delayed for a year. After that, the government will consider whether or not to introduce a licensing scheme, one of the officials told Reuters, requesting anonymity.
The licensing scheme, announced in a surprise move on Aug. 3, was intended to “ensure that “trusted hardware and systems” enter India, reduce dependence on imports, boost local manufacturing and partially offset the country’s trade imbalance with China.
However, after industry objections, the original plan was quickly postponed by about three months.
Last month, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressed concerns to India about the move, which would also affect companies such as Dell and HP.
