The amendment, effective from March 18, replaced the term ‘certificate’ with ‘proof’ in multiple provisions.
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has amended the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020, modifying key rules governing the determination of the country of origin of imported goods, a key factor in availing duty benefits under FTAs.
The amendment, effective from March 18, replaced the term ‘certificate’ with ‘proof’ in multiple provisions.
The move is aimed at tightening scrutiny on imports, particularly those from China that are routed through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evade higher tariffs and trade restrictions, domestic media outlets reported citing experts.
Historically, a ‘certificate of origin’ was required for imports under preferential trade agreements and FTAs. However, recent trade negotiations with the European Union, the United Kingdom mandated an exporter self-certification system as well. This necessitated shifting from ‘certificate’ to ‘proof’ of origin.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
