Ever since the border tensions between India and China have heightened over the last few weeks, it has started having negative impact on Indian apparel exporters.
Many exporters are facing issues at the customs clearance as their goods coming from China are not being cleared without any reason. This is causing a delay in apparel production as lots of trims come from China.
Though there are no official orders so far regarding stoppage of goods imported from China, it is being said that customs officials have verbal instructions to hold Chinese goods.
Mandeep Wasu, Director, Gudi Exports, Faridabad, informed “I have just goods of around US $ 400 (purchase price) stuck with the customs and due to this my shipment of US $ 70,000 is getting delayed.” He further adds that by doing such things, they are bringing loss to India as these trims are for re-export.
Even custom clearing agents or custom house agents are helpless now.
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has sought the Government’s support in expediting the clearance of import consignments from China saying that the undue delay is impacting their operations and might result in further financial losses.
It has written a letter to M Ajit Kumar, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
“Lately, custom authorities at several ports are doing 100 per cent examination of goods originating from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. This has created an undue delay in clearance of imported shipments of inputs which are meant for manufacturing of garments for exports,” said Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC.
So far, such imports were subject to random and partial checks only.
Apparel exporters insisted that the special priority should be given to manufacturer exporters who are dependent on these imports to service their export orders.
