Chinese imports held up at key Indian ports since June 22

At a time when several Indian trade bodies are demanding a boycott on Chinese goods, there is a strong buzz among importers that customers have not cleared goods originating from China since June 22 in key sea and airport of the country.

While there is no official confirmation on the same, a Business Today report indicated that industry representatives have said not to deliver any goods originating from China till further notice.

According to the report, the reason cited by industry representatives is related to the recurrence of Covid-19 cases in China and not the deadly border clash at Galwan River Valley in Ladakh.

Confirming the development to Business Today, Delhi-based Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) and joint managing director of Hindustan Syringes, said 100 per cent examination of all Chinese goods consignments has begun.

“We are informed, all consignments of China origin are being detained at ports for 100 per cent examination. The action began at midnight of last night,” said in the report quoting Nath.

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A Chennai-based industry source also confirmed to the publication that cargo will not be stopped, but re-examined. Even goods that had got prior clearance will be re-examined, the source added.

No response has come in from the Finance Ministry on the alleged move yet.

While there has been no direct confirmation about building economic pressure on China, India seems to be slowly identifying areas where imports can be reduced and replaced with ‘Make in India’ products.

Several schemes to promote local manufacturing of electronic goods and pharmaceutical raw materials have already been announced. A list of non-essential items that are imported from China is also being prepared and such importing such items will be discouraged, the report added.

It may be noted that the Commerce and Industry Ministry has already made it mandatory for sellers to provide information about a product’s country of origin on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’.

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