India announces reforms to simplify import checks as it eyes US trade deal

Ships are docked at the container terminals of Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai

India announced on Wednesday reforms to cut red tape and simplify its import quality checks, addressing a concern raised by the U.S. over what it described as the South Asian country’s ”burdensome” import-quality requirements.

New Delhi and Washington have been working to thrash out a trade agreement, which India hopes will bring relief from a 50% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump on some of its main exports as punishment for its Russian oil purchases.

The reforms on import checks include reduced paperwork, shorter timelines, and fewer inspections for quality approvals, the trade ministry said in a statement.

”The reforms aim to accelerate processes, reduce turnaround times, and leverage technology-driven systems to make quality assurance faster, more transparent, and more accessible for enterprises, institutions, and citizens,” said Jaxay Shah, the chairman of the Quality Council of India.