Enabling exports

Taxes paid by exporters should be refunded swiftly

The government has announced a new scheme that aims to reduce the tax burden on exporters — the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products, or RoDTEP. This, together with the Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) scheme, which focuses on textiles, is the latest attempt to intervene in the export market and increase Indian exports’ competitiveness. While better structured than previous efforts, the schemes nevertheless may founder on flaws in both conception and implementation. Export competitiveness should be addressed through both improving the regulatory and business environment in India, as well as through further simplifying