The steps may include mandatory certification requirements from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

After a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan valley, the Government of India is taking a number of measures to control the imports of non-essential items, especially those coming from China and Hong Kong.

According to a report by The Hindu Business Line, this time the government is looking to impose non-tariff barriers (NTBs) which mean that it will be making a stricter policy for quality standards.

The report claims that the Commerce and Industries Ministry is already busy discussing the forms of NTBs to be imposed on the imports. This may include mandatory certification requirements from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and imposition of import license restrictions, the report says.

Apart from that, the government is also planning to increase taxes on the imports from China. The report further says that Draft Quality Control Orders on non-essential items that require certification from BIS have already been notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

According to The Hindu Business Line report , the option of grabbing a license for imports is already in practice however it may draw some objections from the WTO. It says that it might not go well with WTO in terms of transparency when a country is targeted.

The Hindu Business Line writes that the government has already identified at least 371 items that can be under scanner. These include footwear, furniture, plastic goods, toys, leather products, sports items and some electronics items.