NEW DELHI, Jul 2 (PTI): 'Make in India' will get a push with the government's latest move to impose a 10 per cent basic customs duty on mobile phones imported into the country.
The levy is also applicable on parts like chargers, headsets, battery and USB cable, with immediate effect.
"The duty differential earlier was about 11.5 per cent in favour of local manufacturing. But with GST subsuming SAD and countervailing duties, that benefit was taken away. The 10 per cent customs duty will help push local manufacturing once again," Intex Chief Financial Officer and Director, Rajeev Jain told the news agency.
With this, status quo will be maintained (in favour of domestic manufacturing), he added.
The announcement on the duty came in simultaneously with the midnight roll-out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the intervening night of June 30 and July 1.
Many phone makers, who assemble their devices at facilities in the country, also import small quantities of phones from countries like China.
"The (import) quantities, at least for us, is very small and therefore, the customs duty will not make much difference. [Read More]

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Source: The Financial Express