Import/Export Industry Notifications

With cross-border trade slowing down at Petrapole-Benapole border due to coronavirus, a consignment of nearly 1,100 tonnes of sponge iron has left for Bangladesh using the river route from Kolkata to Narayanganj for the first time. The first vessel carrying 1,098 tonnes of sponge iron and quartz sailed from GR jetty in Kolkata and will reach Narayanganj within the next 7-8 days.

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The government is working on a list of alternative countries that could be suppliers of critical components that cannot currently be manufactured domestically. The DPI is working with the industry to line up a list of low-quality imports from China. The next step is to substitute them, internally or externally. The engagement looks to firm up tariff and non-tariff measures to curb imports of raw, intermediary and finished products from China.

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Certain Indian embassies in Europe have suggested the commerce department various measures to resolve trade disputes and to boost the country's exports. They recommended that sectors such as electronic, telecommunications, textile, garments, leather and footwear, food products and agriculture, automotive, steel, and pharmaceuticals have huge potential in European markets for Indian exporters.

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HAPAG LLYOD has issued a notice informing about additional void sailing positions of South East India - Europe Express Service (IEX). This is due to COVID-19 related measures in several countries that are resulting in operational challenges and unusually decreasing demand.

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The exporters of cut and polished diamonds, who send their products abroad for testing in the laboratory, are given three months by the GOI for duty-free re-import. According to the current FTP norms they have to reimport due to the unprecedented situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The ECGC has announced many relaxations for the exporters, banks and more. They have relaxed the dates for filing a claim, reply to claim queries, submission of all returns like taken, expiring Specific Shipment Policy, and more. Additional measures like a waiver of Credit Limit Application fee till 30th June 2020 is allowed. 50% reduction in policy proposal fee for policies due to renewal/issue until 30th June 2020 has been implemented. They have Reduced Claim eligibility period from 4 to 1 month.

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The trade expressed the hardship being faced in respect of drawl and collection of a sample of Livestock Products to obtain NOC from AQCS. Presently no staffs from AQCS has been deployed at JNCH for drawl and collection of sample. AQCS has agreed to depute one officer exclusively for JNCH for half-day to collect the samples for further processing of their NOC. After the collection of the sample, the AQCS officer will take necessary action regarding NOC.

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The government plans to tighten the regulatory measures around pharmaceuticals imports from China. There will be stricter scrutiny of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), key starting materials (KSM) for medicines and medical equipment. Higher duties on Chinese products may also be on the cards. These moves gathered pace in the wake of the military face-off between India and China in east Ladakh and the continuing diplomatic tension. India imports more than 53 critical pharma APIs, including those used in tuberculosis medicines, steroids and vitamins from China.

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Around 2,200 containers that feed Chennai on a normal day move in and out of three ports — Chennai, Kamarajar and Katupally. Since the intensive lockdown was re-imposed in Chennai and its neighbouring districts, only some containers are transiting the ports. And even those are stranded at various check-posts within the city. This has hit the operations of the manufacturing hubs surrounding the city. Their exports are hit as most containers headed for the ports are stuck outside the city.

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