Tariff measures taken to curb the imports of non-essential items
1. The Central Government has taken tariff measures, by way of increase in the basic customs duty, to curb import of certain imported items vide Notification No. 67/2018- Customs Dated: 26th September, 2018.
. These changes aim at narrowing the current account deficit (CAD).
2. In all the customs duty has been increased on 19 items as detailed below:
| S. No. | Item | Tariff code (HSN) | Basic customs duty | |
| From | To | |||
| 1 | Air conditioners | 8415 | 10 | 20 |
| 2 | Household Refrigerators | 8418 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | Washing machines less than 10 Kg | 8450 | 10 | 20 |
| 4 | Compressor for air conditioners and refrigerators | 8414 30 00 / 8414 80 11 | 7.5 | 10 |
| 5 | Speakers | 8518 29 00 | 10 | 15 |
| 6 | Footwears | 6401 to 6405 | 20 | 25 |
| 7 | Radial Car tyres | 4011 10 10 | 10 | 15 |
| 8 | Non industrial diamond (other than rough diamonds), i.e., cut and polished diamond | 71 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | Diamonds-semi processed, half cut or broken | 71 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 10 | Lab grown diamonds | 71 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 11 | Cut and polished Colored gemstone | 71 | 5 | 7.5 |
| 12 | Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal | 7113 | 15 | 20 |
| 13 | Articles of Goldsmith or silversmith wares and parts thereof of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal | 7114 | 15 | 20 |
| 14 | Bath, shower bath, sink, wash basin, etc. of plastics | 3922 | 10 | 15 |
| 15 | Articles of plastics for conveyance and packing such as boxes, case, containers, bottles, insulated ware etc. | 3923 | 10 | 15 |
| 16 | Tableware, kitchenware and other household items of plastics | 3924 | 10 | 15 |
| 17 | Miscellaneous items of plastics such as office stationery, fitting for furniture’s, decorative sheets, statuettes, beads, bangles etc. | 3926 | 10 | 15 |
| 18 | Trunks, Suitcase, Executive cases, Brief Cases, travel bags and other bags etc. | 4202 | 10 | 15 |
| 19 | Aviation turbine fuel | 2710 19 20 | 0 | 5 |
3. These changes in rates of basic customs duty (BCD) will be effective from 27.09.2018 (i.e., midnight of 26th September/27th September, 2018)
4. The total value of imports of these items in the year 2017-18 was about Rs 86000 Crore.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue)
New Delhi
Notification No. 67/2018- Customs
Dated: 26th September, 2018
G.S.R.927 (E).-WHEREAS the Central Government on being satisfied that the import duty leviable on goods, falling under Chapters 39, 40, 42, 64, 71 and 84 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), should be increased and that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.
NOW, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 8A of the said Customs Tariff Act, the Central Government hereby directs that the First Schedule to the said Customs Tariff Act shall be amended in the following manner, namely:-
In the First Schedule to the said Customs Tariff Act,-
(A) in Section VII,-
(a) in Chapter 39, for the entry in column (4) occurring against all the tariff items of headings 3922, 3923, 3924 and 3926 the entry “15%” shall be substituted;
(b) in Chapter 40, for the entry in column (4) occurring against tariff item 4011 10 10, the entry “15%” shall be substituted;
(B) in Section VIII, in Chapter 42, for the entry in column (4) occurring against all the tariff items of heading 4202, the entry “15%” shall be substituted;
(C) in Section XII, in Chapter 64, for the entry in column (4) occurring against all the tariff items of headings 6401, 6402, 6403, 6404 and 6405, the entry “25%” shall be substituted;
(D) in Section XIV, in Chapter 71, for the entry in column (4) occurring against all the tariff items of headings 7113 and 7114, the entry “20%” shall be substituted;
(E) in Section XVI, in Chapter 84,-
(a) for the entry in column (4) occurring against tariff items 8414 30 00 and 8414 80 11, the entry “10%” shall be substituted;
(b) for the entry in column (4) occurring against all the tariff items of sub-headings 8415 10, 8415 20, 8415 81, 8415 82 and 8415 83, the entry “20%” shall be substituted;
(c) for the entry in column (4) occurring against tariff items 8418 10 90, 8418 21 90 and 8418 29 00, the entry “20%” shall be substituted;
(d) for the entry in column (4) occurring against tariff items 8450 11 00, 8450 12 00 and 8450 1900, the entry “20%” shall be substituted.
2. This notification shall be effective from the 27th September, 2018.
[F.No.354/374/2018-TRU]
(Mohit Tewari)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
