India delays laptop import restrictions order by three months

A day after the regulation left electronic industry giants in a state of disruption and uncertainty, India is said to have delayed the implementation of its import limitations on laptops, tablets and servers by three months. In a notification published late Friday, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the implementation of the new import rule won’t go into effect till October 31.  

"Import consignments can be cleared till October 31 without a licence and a government permit would be required for clearance of import from November 1," the government said in a notification.

Earlier, a government official said that it was examining an industry request to defer the new import licence order by three to six months.

The government's notification on Thursday did not give a reason for the action, which could affect technology companies such as Apple, Dell and Samsung and potentially see them boost local manufacturing. The move was aimed at addressing the trade imbalance with China.

Deputy IT and Electronics Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar had said the move was aimed to "ensure trusted hardware and systems" and reduce dependence on imports.

His ministry earlier in the day assured that the government would be prompt in issuing licences and not create supply gaps in the market.

It had said New Delhi will issue licences for companies to import laptops and tablets within two days. Licences can be obtained online.