Apple at heart of Budget 2018 customs duty hikes to encourage manufacturing

Apple keen to set up its own retail stores in India, but wants dilution in 30% local sourcing norm for single-brand FDI

Cupertino-based Apple may have been at the centre of the narrative for hiking import duties on a slew of items in the Budget for 2018-19.  

For the second time in two months, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced an increase in the customs duty on mobile phones — to 20 per cent from 15 per cent after raising it from 10 per cent earlier.  

It took several rounds of convincing by the revenue department for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the customs duty hike on each of the 45 items announced in the Budget for 2018-19. 

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