India's curbs on PC imports criticized

陈小将

India's move to restrict imports of personal computers is a protectionist policy aimed at curbing imports from China, experts said, noting it is in contrast with Beijing's recent call for BRICS members to cooperate on trade.

On Aug 3, India's Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry imposed import restrictions on laptops, tablets, servers and personal computers with immediate effect. The following day, it was announced that restrictions would not take effect until Nov 1, when no one will be allowed to import devices without a license.

The curbs are seen as aimed at boosting the country's "Make in India" initiative and bringing prices down.

"It is (the) government's objective to ensure trusted hardware and systems, reduce import dependence and increase domestic manufacturing of this category of products," India's Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Aug 4.

While the restrictions are not country-specific, most laptops and personal computers sold in India were manufactured or assembled in China.

Last month, Chandrasekhar said India remains open to Chinese investment.

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao called on BRICS members — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — to strengthen cooperation and uphold multilateralism at a meeting of BRICS trade and economy ministers on Monday.

"China stands ready to take actionable steps to promote cooperation within BRICS in the areas of trade and economy," Wang said at the virtual meeting, which was also attended by India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

Saikat Sinha Roy, an economist from Jadavpur University in West Bengal, said Wang's comment is significant in the context of India restricting computer imports, and it is important for both countries to cooperate given their trade complementarity.