Ban not enough, high time India became self-sufficient: Rajesh Das

GUWAHATI: The clamour for a ban in Chinese products continues to rise in Assam amidst escalating tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where Chinese troops killed at least 20 Indian jawans in a violent confrontation. But will it be really possible to boycott Chinese commodities at a time when such products from the neighbouring country are easily available in the State and other parts of the Northeast?

From low-value, low-cost products like toys and crackers to high-value items like electronics, Chinese commodities have flooded the Northeast markets. The situation has come to such a pass that the Assam Government had to purchase PPE kits from China to fight the battle against COVID-19.

"Boycotting Chinese products in Assam and other parts of the Northeast gains momentum now and then for various reasons. The latest call is against the Chinese troops' aggression. I wholeheartedly support the boycott call. But I fear whether it will be a sustained boycott call or vanish soon after tension along the LAC deescalate?," Rajesh Das, vice president of Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam told The Sentinel on Friday.

Das, a prominent entrepreneur, said unless and until the younger generation of entrepreneurs is promoted, trained and equipped to manufacture various products to replace attractive and cheap Chinese products, mere boycott call is not going to evict the markets of products imported from China.

"Customers will always go for attractive and cheap products. China is a very strong country and adopting various strategies to dominate the NE markets. China has recently organized a trade fair of various COVID protective items and ready to export the same. So, we have to adopt long pragmatic strategies to manufacture various products locally to counter China," Das said.

Das said it is high time we made 'Make in India', one of the flagship programmes of the present regime at the Centre, a huge success in the Northeast.

Besides fruits, vegetables and spices like garlic the list of Chinese items glutting the NE markets seems to be endless. Chinese foodstuff, beverages, suitcases, bags, briefcases, fashion wear and casual wear, occasional wear, sportswear, kids wear, pens and writing Instruments, file storage products, office items, paper products, desk decorations, general office supplies, domestic furniture, hotel and restaurant furniture, paper products and packing products, paintings, pictures and frames, advertising gifts and presents, custom printed products, jewellery, bone carvings & jade carvings, home decorations, festival and party decorations, religious decorations, baby toys, electric toys, remote-controlled toys, clockwork toys, games (action, educational games and toys, plush and cloth toys, dolls, riding vehicles, musical toys) have made customers in Assam and other parts of NE spoiled for choice.

A trader at Lakhtokia said the Chinese products come at a price which is around 60 per cent less than the branded ones. "Even though these products including smart mobile phones and laptops do not come with any warranty or guarantee, unlike the branded ones, consumers are going crazy after these products. Since customers desperately need Chinese products we have to give them. We have no choice," he said.

"We are heavily dependent on Chinese products, whether we know it or not. Forget smartphones, three-fourths of which come from China, there are innumerable goods of daily use that are made by Indian companies, but depend heavily on Chinese inputs," a young entrepreneur said.

He said even though the country is facing a military standoff with China, it is impractical to boycott everything that's made in the neighbouring country immediately.

"It is high time India became self-sufficient first to thwart aggression of the dragon country in our markets," the entrepreneur said.

However, components, pharma ingredients and other goods that go into the final manufacturing of finished products and require some time for the domestic capacity to build up have been left out for now.

According to sources, tariff on products that compete with local items produced by labour-intensive industries might also rise.

The set principle, source said is to encourage local manufacturing due to the presence of a robust domestic market along with conducive monetary and 'Make in India' policy.

Similarly, the Centre had earlier received several proposals to consider a hike in duty on over 300 items like toys, furniture, footwear, coated paper, rubber items among other in the Union Budget.

That time, the move was mooted to keep imports down and help to raise revenue.

Many of these products are from industries which come under the MSME sector, which has been given special attention in the 'Self-reliant India' programme.

Besides, sources indicate that in order to safeguard against flooding of goods in the domestic market despite imposition of anti-dumping duty, certain non-tariff barriers pertaining to quality control might be enforced.

Recently, the Centre has placed imported tyres in restricted category, under which an import license would be required to bring in the product to the domestic market.

In case of furniture, the country might go big on import substitution.

Earlier, Chairman TPCI Mohit Singla had said: "After US has imposed 25 per cent duty on the import of furniture from China, the import to US from China has dropped almost 20 per cent.

"The industry should map key buyers and work closely while hand holding their recent shift from China and Vietnam in India's favour."

Currently, India exports just $1.7 billion of furniture. (IANS)

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