November 5, 2025
The government’s decision reflects urgency in meeting festive season needs and reducing stock-outs caused by constrained access to overseas inputs
The DPIIT recently reached out to industry bodies for company-wise details of delays in foreign-manufacturer certification
While this signals a moderation of trade-restrictions, India’s “localisation” push remains intact
The freeze on approvals had been in place since early 2020 amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with China following border clashes
The Indian government is gearing up to resume issuing approvals for imports from China and other countries after a five-year hiatus, signalling a thaw in import controls and a pivot toward easing supply-chain pressures.
According to officials in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) earlier approval bottlenecks, particularly for Chinese manufacturers seeking certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for plants abroad are set to be addressed on a case-by-case basis moving forward.
The freeze on approvals had been in place since early 2020 amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with China following border clashes. With domestic demand surging, especially for consumer electronics, household goods, steel products and raw materials, the government’s decision reflects urgency in meeting festive season needs and reducing stock-outs caused by constrained access to overseas inputs.
A BIS-certification requirement for overseas units of manufacturers had slowed down approvals significantly for Chinese plants, impacting availability of finished goods and components. The DPIIT recently reached out to industry bodies for company-wise details of delays in foreign-manufacturer certification.
Observers note that while this signals a moderation of trade-restrictions, India’s “localisation” push remains intact. The government says the move is aimed at augmenting supply, not at reversing its domestic-value-addition goals.
The resumption of import-licensing for Chinese and other foreign suppliers arrives amid broader signs of warmer India–China economic engagement: direct flights have restarted, business visas are being processed, and China has resumed exports of key inputs such as rare-earth magnets to India.
As sectors such as consumer electronics and appliances face lead-time challenges, the government’s expedited approvals may ease immediate bottlenecks. At the same time, the move is likely to draw scrutiny from firms and policymakers who are balancing import relief with strategic self-reliance objectives in manufacturing.
Source: Economic Times