Consumer durable makers press for import duty hike after GST rate cut

Grey market operators, Singh maintains, can take advantage of the current dual GST rate structure, since TVs above 68 cm continue to be taxed at 28%

The government has said it is considering the possibility of hiking import duty on consumer durables, following a slash in the goods and services tax (GST) rate last week. An appeal for an import duty hike has come mainly from organised television manufacturers, who argue that grey market operators import TV sets, passing it off as parts, and thereby taking advantage of lower customs duty on it.

The matter assumes significance since GST on TV sets, up to a screen size of 68 cm (or 26 inches), has been slashed from 28 per cent to 18 per cent in the