Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in its latest report has stated that India’s gold and silver imports from United Arab Emirates (UAE) jumped 210% to $10.7 billion in 2023-24 from $3.5 billion in 2022-23.
This sharp rise in gold and silver imports is primarily driven by import duty concessions granted by India to the UAE under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). India needs to potentially revise the concessional customs duty rates under the pact to mitigate the arbitrage driving this surge.
India allows 7% tariffs or customs duty concessions on import of unlimited quantities of silver and a 1% concession on 160 metric tonnes of gold. CEPA was signed in February 2022 and implemented in May 2022. Additionally, India facilitates gold and silver imports by allowing private firms to import from the UAE through the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) in Gift City. Previously, only authorised agencies could handle such imports.