Beijing wants consultations on India’s tariffs on technology products such as telephones, smartphones, PV cells and certain other machines and devices, which it says exceed bound rates (ceiling rates committed to at the WTO), per a submission made to the WTO by China on Tuesday.
It also wants consultations on the conditions that govern the eligibility for, and disbursement of incentives under, the `PLI scheme: national programme on high efficiency solar PV modules.
“India applies customs duties, and/or other duties or charges on or in connection with importation, in excess of the bound rate set out in its schedule of commitments for the Annex A products listed below,” the submission noted.
According to Beijing, India is supposed to maintain zero tariffs on the identified IT goods, including smartphones. However, India has been arguing that smartphones and other newer tech products do not fall under its zero tariff commitments under the IT Agreement of 1996 as these didn’t exist then.
Referring to India’s solar module programme and PLI scheme for PV modules, China noted that the local value addition requirements were discriminatory against imported goods, which violated multilateral trade rules.
If Beijing is not satisfied with the consultations it has with India on its concerns, it could ask for setting up of a dispute panel. However, with the Appellate Body of the WTO dysfunctional, it is difficult for disputes to get resolved.
Published on December 23, 2025
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/china-asks-india-for-wto-consultations-on-it-tariffs-pli-on-solar-modules/article70430776.ece
