EU drags India to WTO over Import Duties on ICT Products

On 2^nd April, 2019, the European Union (EU) dragged India into WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism over imposition of import duties on certain ‘Information and Communications Technology’ (ICT) products, including mobile phones, alleging breach of global trade norms.

• The EU is challenging the introduction of import duties on a wide range of ICT products, like mobile phones and components, base stations, integrated circuits and optical instruments.
• In October 2018, India hiked import duty on certain communication items, including base stations, to up to 20 per cent as part of efforts to check a widening current account deficit by curbing imports.