India Fears Losing Smartphone Export Race to China, Vietnam

• High tariffs risk India’s smartphone export to China, Vietnam.
• Deputy IT Minister urges quick tariff reduction for global appeal.
• Strategic tariff shift needed with exports at 25% amid domestic saturation.

India faces the risk of losing out to global competitors such as China and Vietnam. Government documents reveal the concerns of India’s deputy IT minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who emphasizes the need for immediate action to attract global companies through lower tariffs.

Smartphone manufacturing is a crucial component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic agenda, aiming to stimulate growth and create jobs. However, critics argue that India’s high tariffs are discouraging companies from diversifying their supply chains beyond China. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Mexico have surged ahead in phone exports by offering more favorable tariffs on components.

Chandrasekhar’s Jan. 3 letter and a confidential presentation to the Finance Minister highlight the urgency of addressing these concerns. He emphasizes that India’s high production costs, attributed to the highest tariffs among key manufacturing destinations, pose a threat to the nation’s ambitions. The deputy IT minister underscores the geopolitical shifts leading supply chains out of China, warning that India must act swiftly to prevent losing opportunities to competitors.

Lower tariffs on components are critical to India’s strategy to attract smartphone manufacturers. While “Made in India” phones incorporate locally made parts, high-end components are often imported, resulting in increased overall costs due to tariffs. U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti has expressed concerns about foreign investments flowing into countries like Vietnam instead of India due to tariffs restricting the market.

Chandrasekhar emphasizes that China and Vietnam’s lower taxes on components have significantly contributed to their export success. Currently, only 25% of India’s smartphone production is exported, compared to 63% of China’s $270 billion and 95% of Vietnam’s $40 billion worth of production.

Despite India’s goal to represent 25% of global electronics manufacturing by 2029, official documents reveal that its current stake is only at 4%. The IT minister’s appeal for lower tariffs in the annual budget aims to address this gap, urging a shift in tariff policy to align with India’s ambitions for increased exports.

While the finance ministry has reduced taxes on some components, Chandrasekhar’s call for further tariff cuts, particularly on items like chargers and circuit boards, remains unanswered. As India seeks to surpass a 20% tax on these components, the minister stresses the need to match China’s tariffs and outcompete Vietnam to attract global supply chains.

With the local smartphone market nearing saturation, Chandrasekhar advocates for a new strategy focused on exports rather than domestic consumption. The urgency to address tariff concerns becomes paramount in India’s quest to become a significant player in the global smartphone export market.

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