Page 13 - Commerce Ministry

Commerce ministry may import monitoring system for leather products

The commerce ministry is considering introducing an import monitoring system for the leather sector, under which a trader will have to provide advance information about the imports and obtain a registration number, an official said. "Talks are at an early stage on the issue at present," the official said. Normally under the system, importers are required to submit advance information in an online system for imports of items and obtain an automatic registration number by paying a certain amount of registration fee. Earlier, the government introduced similar system for sectors like coal and steel. Imports of leather and leather products dipped by 26.32 per cent to USD 61.62 million. During 2022-23, these imports have recorded a growth of 25.62 per cent to USD 1.02 billion as against USD 819 million in 2021-22. The ministry is also considering extending some initiatives such as the production-linked incentive scheme to the leather and footwear sector to further promote the growth of

Commerce min reviewing existing guidelines for elections of EPCs, FIEO

The commerce ministry has decided to review the eligibility criteria for the election of office bearers of export promotion councils (EPCs) and apex exporters body FIEO to make them more inclusive and representative. According to an office memorandum, a three-member panel has been constituted to review the existing guidelines and make suitable recommendations about representation of different stakeholders in the managing committee and other posts. The panel is likely to take about two months to complete the exercise and submit its recommendations. The memorandum said that till amendment of the existing guidelines on the basis of the recommendations of the committee, EPCs/FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations) may put on hold all the elections which are in process, including those where no results have been declared with immediate effect. FIEO already elected a vice-president in March. Election for the president post was due this year. Different export promotion councils

Rejection rates of DGTR's proposals by FinMin to impose duties rise

The rejection rate of the commerce ministry's recommendations to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on different imported products by the finance ministry has gone up substantially between September 2020 to October 2022, according to a report. The report of the 'Centre for Digital Economy' also said that the rejections are almost invariably without giving any reasons. From September 2020 to October 2022, as many as 70 anti-dumping and countervailing duties recommendations of the commerce ministry were rejected out of 120. From 1991 to 2020, only seven recommendations were turned down by the finance ministry out of 1,052 cases recommended by the commerce ministry's investigation arm -- Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). DGTR is a quasi-judicial body which deals with anti-dumping duty, safeguard duty, and countervailing duty. These duties are trade remedy measures, provided under an agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to its member countries. They a

Commerce Min urges export promotion council to meet targets set for FY23

The commerce ministry has asked export promotion councils to work on export targets for current fiscal year and chalk out a detailed road map to achieve that. According to exporters, issues related to the country's outbound shipments were discussed during a meeting chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on April 24. India's goods and services exports together touched an all-time high of USD 770 billion last fiscal year.While merchandise exports touched USD 447 billion, services exports are estimated at about USD 322 billion. "The ministry has asked us to work on new exports target for this fiscal and explain ways to achieve," an exporter said. He said it was emphasised that states and Indian missions abroad be involved in achieving the new target. There was also a discussion on organising a major buyer-seller meet to showcase India's prowess in exports. Latin America and African countries hold huge potential to boost exports. Apparel Export Promotion Council Chai

Piyush Goyal marks importance of small countries in global supply chain

The Union Minister appealed to all to aim for a 47 trillion dollar economy when India reaches the year 2047

You may soon have to pay more for soaps, detergents, shampoos. Here's why

A new proposal may impose duties on raw material required to produce cleaning products, making them more expensive

Commerce ministry terminates anti-dumping probe on Chinese chemical imports

The commerce ministry has terminated an anti-dumping investigation into the import of a chemical, used in dying industry, from China following a request from the domestic industry. On September 30, 2022, the ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated a probe into alleged dumping of 'sulphur black' from China, following a complaint by a domestic firm Atul Ltd. However on April 15 this year, the applicant has withdrawn its petition and has requested for termination of the investigation citing certain reasons. "The authority hereby terminates the investigation...against the imports of Sulphur Black originating in or exported from China," the DGTR has said in a notification. It is mainly used for dying cellulose fiber, viscose staple fiber and yam. Anti-dumping rules have a provision for termination of a probe in certain situations which include withdrawal of application by the affected domestic industry at whose instance the investigation was

World is looking at India, grasp this opportunity to grow exports: Goyal

Union minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the world is now looking up to India and its industries and this is the right time for entrepreneurs and industry players to grasp the opportunity and grow exports. Entrepreneurial abilities in the country with innovation, new ideas, new ways of marketing and branding products can unleash the true potential of the country, the Commerce and Industry Minister said while addressing the 49th India Gem and Jewellery Awards. "On April 24, I have a meeting with ministers of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), consisting of four countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, who are keen to negotiate with India. "Other Gulf countries and Russia are also keen to negotiate with India. The world is now looking up to India and its industries, and this is the right time for the industries and entrepreneurs to grasp the opportunity and grow exports," Goyal said. Further, Goyal said jewellery exporters have shown good promise

I-T Dept sends 8,000 notices to taxpayers who claimed exemption for charity

The people who have been served notices include salaried employees, self-employed individuals, and companies

DGFT lays out procedure for exporters to apply for amnesty scheme

The commerce ministry on Monday laid out a procedure for applying for amnesty scheme for one-time settlement of default in export obligation by certain exporters. The directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), under the ministry, directed the regional authorities to process any such applications within three working days. "Application for AA (advance authorisation)/EPCG (export promotion for capital goods) discharge/closure shall be filled online by logging onto the DGFT website and navigating to services," the DGFT said in a policy circular. The government announced the new foreign trade policy (FTP) on March 31. It included an amnesty scheme for exporters for one-time settlement of default in export obligation by the holders of advance and EPCG (export promotion for capital goods) authorisations. Under the scheme, all pending cases of the default in meeting export obligation (EO) of certain authorisations can be regularised by the authorisation holder on payment of all customs

DGFT should make good notable omissions

Hopefully, communications will follow on these issues

High targets must be set in India-Italy partnership: Piyush Goyal

Goyal appreciated Tajani for the deep engagement and said that there is a tremendous potential for growth in the India-Italy partnership and through this visit new ideas have emerged

Cases under probe for fraud not to be covered under FTP's amnesty scheme

Cases under investigation for fraud, and misdeclaration of capital goods will be excluded from the coverage of the amnesty scheme announced under the new foreign trade policy (FTP), according to the commerce ministry. The government announced the new FTP on March 31. It included an amnesty scheme for exporters for one-time settlement of default in export obligation by the holders of advance and EPCG (export promotion for capital goods) authorisations. Under the scheme, all pending cases of the default in meeting export obligation (EO) of certain authorizations can be regularised by the authorisation holder on payment of all customs duties that were exempted in proportion to unfulfilled EO and interest at the rate of 100 per cent of such duties exempted. However, no interest is payable on the portion of additional customs duty and special additional customs duty. All those authorization holders who are interested to avail of the scheme will have to register themselves with the DGFT

India on track to achieve $2 trillion exports by 2030: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday exuded confidence that India's merchandise and services exports will cross USD 2 trillion by 2030 from the current level of USD 765 billion, as he unveiled a "dynamic and responsive" foreign trade policy. He said that goods exports have witnessed good growth considering the current global scenario while services exports may see a quantum jump in the current fiscal. "We have to meet our exports targets going forward," said the minister, adding that "we will need to work a bit harder" on goods exports. "It shouldn't be that by 2030, services exports cross USD 1 trillion while you (merchandise exports) lag behind. I am confident that we will cross USD 2 trillion by 2030," Goyal said. The minister said he has asked the Department of Commerce to undertake a "massive focused concentrated" outreach globally in the next 4-5 months sectorally as well as country-wise through Indian missions abroad with special focus on trade, technology, tourism a

Indian exports dip for third consecutive month by 8.8% to $33.88 bn in Feb

India's exports dipped in February for the third consecutive month by 8.8 per cent to USD 33.88 billion against USD 37.15 billion in the same month last year, according to the data released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday. Imports also declined by 8.21 per cent to USD 51.31 billion as against USD 55.9 billion recorded in the corresponding month last year. The country's trade deficit in February stood at USD 17.43 billion. During April-February this fiscal, however, the country's overall merchandise exports rose by 7.5 per cent to USD 405.94 billion. Imports during the period increased by 18.82 per cent to USD 653.47 billion.

Exports in FY23 to reach about $770 billion: Commerce and industry ministry

India's merchandise and services exports combined in the current financial year ending March will be close to USD 760-770 billion, Union Minister for State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said on Thursday. The country's merchandise and services exports stood at USD 672 billion in the last fiscal. "We are focusing in every possible way on how we can export more and more because today India's share in global merchandise trade is close to 1.8 per cent. As far as services trade is concerned, it is just 4 per cent. We want to take it to 10 per cent," Patel said at the Sourcex India event here. India's merchandise and services exports in the current financial year ending March will be close to USD 760-770 billion, she noted. The minister also mentioned that the Indian economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and with the increasing globalisation of trade, there is immense potential for Indian businesses, particularly brands to expand their footprint in the .

ONDC to support small retailers against large tech-based e-com firms: Goyal

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a unified payments interface-type protocol, will help small retailers survive the onslaught of large tech-based e-commerce companies, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. ONDC is an initiative of the ministry to help small retailers expand their business and reduce the dominance of e-commerce giants. It aims to build an open, interoperable network on which buyers and sellers can transact without needing to be present on the same platform. It offers small retailers an opportunity to provide their services, and goods to buyers across the country through an e-commerce system, where buyers will be able to purchase the products, which are sold on any platform. "ONDC will help our small retail survive the onslaught of large tech-based e-commerce companies," Goyal said here at an event on the retail sector. He said that the effort is to encourage small companies, and startups to integrate into the e-commerce ...

Upcoming retail trade policy to help brick and mortar traders: Centre

The Centre plans to come out with a retail trade policy which would provide more credit and better infrastructure to brick and mortar traders

Taking several steps to create global brand for Indian tea: Comm Min

India has taken several steps to boost tea output, create a niche brand for the Indian tea and ensure the welfare of families associated with this industry, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. India is the second largest tea producer and the largest black tea producer and is self-sufficient in meeting domestic requirements and export obligations. It said the Indian tea is exported to various destinations and is the fourth largest tea exporter besides catering to a large number of domestic consumers. The industry is employing 1.16 million workers directly and an equal number are associated with it indirectly. "Government through the Tea Board had helped in the formation of 352 Self Help Groups , 440 Farmer Producer Organisations and 17 Farmer Producer Companies. Assistance has been provided towards procurement of pruning machines and mechanical harvesters," it said. Other measures include setting up of mini tea factories to encourage entrepreneurs; development of mobile app 'Ch

Business leaders must focus on sustainability, respect nature: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday urged business leaders to focus on sustainability and ensure all their actions respect nature. He said that India is committed to ensuring that sustainability and inclusive growth are going to be the defining features of its growth story. "I urge all business leaders to focus on sustainability and ensure all our actions respect nature," he said while addressing the CII's India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave. The minister said that India's partnership with the UK and the European Union are two significant elements in the global effort to make the world a better place to live in. "Technology and finance are going to play an important role in a sustainable lifestyle. I urge the world leaders to recognise that we all have to contribute our fair share to energy efficiency to make the world a better place to live in," Goyal said. He added that developed and developing countries need to have different goals and ...