India’s Laptop Market: What to Expect After the New Import Rules

By Ashwini Nathany

Posted on August 7, 2023

The latest regulations on Laptop imports to promote domestic business is having an impact both on the Chinese trade and investment as well as the Indian economy.

Trade barriers make it more expensive for businesses to import goods and services, which can lead to higher prices for consumers. They also make it more difficult for businesses to compete with foreign rivals, which can lead to job losses. In addition, trade barriers can lead to a decrease in innovation. When businesses are protected from foreign competition, they have less incentive to develop new products and services. This can stifle economic growth in the long run.

Since April 2020, India has tightened its investment screening norms for companies based in neighboring countries, including China. This has led to a slowdown in Chinese investment in India, with several investment proposals from Chinese companies being stuck in the approval process.

In June 2020, India banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, WeChat, and UC Browser. This ban has had a significant impact on Chinese tech companies, which have lost access to a major market. India has also increased customs duties on a range of Chinese imports, including electronics, textiles, and steel. This has made Chinese products more expensive in India, and has led to a decline in Chinese exports to India.

More recently in August 2023, India announced that it would require a license for the import of laptops and tablets. This measure is likely to have a significant impact on Chinese laptop and tablet manufacturers, which account for a large share of the Indian market. The cumulative impact of these measures has been to reduce Chinese trade and investment in India. In 2020, bilateral trade between India and China fell by 20%, and Chinese investment in India fell by 60%. It is likely that these trends will continue in the coming years, as India continues to take a more cautious approach to Chinese trade and investment.

The government has deferred the implementation of the restrictions to October 31, 2023. This means that laptops can still be imported without a license until that date. The original notification, which was issued on August 3, 2023, stated that the import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, and ultra-small form factor computers would require a license starting November 1, 2023. However, the government has since announced that it will defer the implementation of these restrictions in order to give businesses more time to adjust.

The decision to impose import restrictions on laptops was reportedly made in order to boost domestic manufacturing in India. The government believes that by making it more difficult to import laptops, it will encourage more companies to set up manufacturing operations in India. The deferral of the implementation of the restrictions is likely to be welcomed by businesses that import laptops. However, it remains to be seen whether the government will ultimately decide to implement the restrictions in full.

In addition to the import restrictions, the government has also imposed a customs duty of 28% on laptops imported into India. This means that the cost of laptops in India is likely to increase as a result of these measures. It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of these regulations will be on the Indian laptop market. However, it is clear that the government is taking steps to promote domestic manufacturing in this sector.

The new rules have been met with criticism from some industry experts, who say that they will make laptops more expensive for consumers and will hurt the Indian economy. Companies like Apple and Samsung, which are two of the biggest laptop manufacturers in India, have said that they are currently unable to obtain the necessary licenses and have therefore halted new laptop imports.

Impact of the new rules:

The new rules are likely to have a significant impact on the Indian laptop market. They will make laptops more expensive for consumers, as importers will have to pass on the costs of the licenses to their customers. This could lead to a decline in demand for laptops in India.

The new rules could also hurt the Indian economy. The laptop industry is a major employer in India, and the new rules could lead to job losses in the sector.

The government’s rationale:

The government has said that the new rules are necessary to boost domestic manufacturing in the country. India is a major importer of laptops, and the government hopes that the new rules will encourage more companies to set up manufacturing operations in India.

The new rules on laptop imports are a significant policy shift by the Indian government. It remains to be seen what the long-term impact of the rules will be on the Indian laptop market. However, it is clear that the rules will have a significant impact in the short term.

India’s Laptop Market: What to Expect After the New Import Rules