End of E-commerce Duty Moratorium: A Call for India's Economic Sustainability

Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges lifting the pause on customs duties for digital products, arguing it undercuts self-reliance and results in tax revenue loss, especially impacting emerging technologies like AI. The issue is prominent ahead of the WTO Ministerial Conference, with implications for India's economy and sovereignty.

Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) is pressing for an end to the freeze on customs duties on e-transmission of digital products. The move, they argue, threatens India's self-reliance by resulting in revenue losses and thwarting the nation's ability to tax emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The renewed demand from the RSS affiliate comes as the World Trade Organization (WTO) gears up for its 14th Ministerial Conference, where the extension of the e-commerce moratorium is expected to be a major focus. Ashwani Mahajan, SJM's national co-convener, contends that the duty-free regime discourages domestic production, harming initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Mahajan further highlights that the moratorium undermines India's taxing potential in new-age digital sectors and could entrench the dominance of US and China, affecting national economic sustainability and political sovereignty. He warns of significant implications, including job losses and policy-making challenges, if the status quo persists.

(With inputs from agencies.)