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Business News/ Budget / Budget 2022: Diamond, mobile phone get cheaper; pay more for imported items
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Budget 2022: Diamond, mobile phone get cheaper; pay more for imported items

As a result of rationalisation in customs duties, imported cut and polished diamonds, frozen mussels, frozen squids, asafoetida, cocoa beans, methyl alcohol and acetic acid are set to become cheaper

Diamonds pictured during an official presentation by a diamond producer. (REUTERS)Premium
Diamonds pictured during an official presentation by a diamond producer. (REUTERS)

Presenting the Union Budget 2022-23 on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed to increase the basic customs duty (BCD) on import of commonly used items, including headphones and earphones, loudspeakers, smart meters, imitation jewellery, solar cells, solar modules to promote domestic manufacturing in the country.

However, as a result of rationalisation in customs duties, imported cut and polished diamonds, frozen mussels, frozen squids, asafoetida, cocoa beans, methyl alcohol and acetic acid are set to become cheaper.

The Centre has decided to calibrate BCD to facilitate domestic manufacturing of wearable devices, hearable devices and electronic smart meters.

It has been proposed to reduce BCD on camera lens for use in manufacture of camera module for cellular mobile phone to 2.5% from 15%.

Moreover, to help the MSME sector, the Centre has asked to raise BCD on import of umbrella to 20% from the existing 10% and also withdrew exemption to parts of umbrellas.

"Exemption is also being rationalised on implements and tools for agri-sector which are manufactured in India," the finance minister announced.

Customs duty exemption given to steel scrap in 2021 has been extended for a year more to provide relief to MSME secondary steel producers.

While duty on products such as methyl alcohol (methanol) and acetic acid has been brought down to 2.5% and 5%, respectively from the existing 10%.

"Customs duty on certain critical chemicals namely methanol, acetic acid and heavy feed stocks for petroleum refining are being reduced, while duty is being raised on sodium cyanide for which adequate domestic capacity exists. These changes will help in enhancing domestic value addition," she added.

Custom duty on cocoa beans has also been reduced to 15% from 30%.

Also, customs duty on cut and polished diamonds and gemstones is being reduced to 5% from 7.5% and nil on simply sawn diamond, to give a boost to the gems and jewellery sector.

Moreover, to disincentivise import of undervalued imitation jewellery, the government has fixed it at 20% or 400/kg, whichever is higher.

The government has also proposed to bring import of recovered (waste and scrap) paper for manufacturing paper, paperboard or newsprint under BCD. It will now attract to 2.5% duty.

"Customs' reforms have played a very vital role in domestic capacity creation, providing level-playing field to our MSMEs, easing the raw material supply side constraints, enhancing ease of doing business and being an enabler to other policy initiatives such as PLIs and Phased Manufacturing Plans," Sitharaman added.

With agency inputs

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Published: 01 Feb 2022, 05:31 PM IST
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