Centre hikes import duty on Refrigerators, ACs, diamond

The central government on Wednesday announced its decision to hike the customs duty to disapprove the purchase of “non-essential imports.” The new customs duty will be applicable to 19 items and will be implemented from midnight itself, said the official statement.

The 19 items include consumer appliances such as television, refrigerator, air conditioner, speakers and washing machines. Footwears, diamonds (except rough diamonds), etc.

Import duties was doubled to 20 on Air Conditioners, household Refrigerators and washing machines (less than 10 kg. While it increased the customs duty to 50% on speakers, footwears and Radial Car Tyres. Many varieties of jewellery, precious metals, shower bath, sink, tableware and kitchenware made of plastic, boxes, case, containers, bottles, insulated ware, stationary fittings for furniture’s, decorative sheets, statuettes, beads, bangles are other things whose import duty was increased from 15 to 20.

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Duties of Trunk, suitcases, executive cases, briefcases, travel bags, and other bags were also increased by the same margin.

Meanwhile, Lab-grown diamonds and cut and polished and coloured gemstone’s customs duties were increased from 5 to 7.5%.

The government also increased a basic customs duty of 5% on the import of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) or Jet fuel.

Image Source: Zee News