Hasty decision

The across the board doubling of customs duties, which seems to be a hasty decision, will adversely affect the whole manufacturing and retailing industry in the country

With reference to “Importing worries” (December 20), the editorial has a justification in stating that raising customs duties has many downsides. The sudden and untimely duty hike on electronic items is going to add to the woes of the whole electronics industry. India is only just building a production base, and it has been dependent on China which exports electronic items ranging from components to telecom instruments to the tune of $42 billion a year. These cannot be indigenised by force in the name of “making in India” or hiking duties so steeply. We do not have a strong manufacturing