Sonia for action on gold duty; government says not now

With the clamour for a duty cut on gold imports growing and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking action on such demands, the government today said there is no immediate plan to relax the curbs as they are working well.
Gandhi, without spelling out her own opinion, has asked the Commerce Ministry to look into demands made by gems and jewellery exporters for a cut in customs duty on gold and relaxation of a rule linking imports of the metal with exports.
"You are requested to kindly look into the matter (demands of the gems and jewellery industry) for appropriate action," said a letter written by the office of Gandhi to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry headed by Anand Sharma.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is in Davos, said restrictions on gold imports can be rolled back only after the government obtains a firm grip on the current account deficit (CAD).
"Until we have a firm grip on the CAD, I don't contemplate any rollback of any measure," he said, adding that the government will get a full idea of the CAD only when the interim Budget is presented in Parliament.
Parliament is scheduled to meet from February 5 to 21.

Sharma, who too is in Davos, said the mechanism linking gold imports with exports has been working well.
"I've not seen that communication as yet as I am here at Davos. I can't comment on something that I have not seen, but what I know is that this 80:20 formula has been working well," he told PTI.

He, however, said the government was open to discussing all issues with the gems and jewellery federation.
The All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation wrote to Gandhi demanding reduction in customs duty on gold to 2 per cent from 10 per cent and relaxation of an 80:20 rule imposed by the RBI disallowing inward shipments of gold unless 20 per cent of the previous imports is exported.