A new report by the Policy Consensus Centre has called for the phased elimination of India’s basic customs duty on primary aluminium.
The research body recommends reducing the import tariff to zero over a defined timeline to lower input costs for domestic manufacturers.
The proposal targets small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which rely heavily on imported aluminium for production.
By removing the duty, the study argues that Indian manufacturers can enhance their global competitiveness and support broader job growth in the industrial sector.
This recommendation comes as global trade policies on metals remain under scrutiny.
While the UK recently tightened steel import quotas to protect domestic producers, India’s approach focuses on liberalizing input costs to stimulate downstream manufacturing activity.