Govt. mulls slapping new import tax on sanitaryware imports

Attention has been drawn to introduce an import tax on imported sanitaryware products as a measure to protect the local manufacturers of such products, a statement from the Presidential Media Division said.

During a recent National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, it has come to light that local producers of sanitaryware have not been able to compete with imported products as the cess on such products was removed. 

“Accordingly, attention was drawn to impose an import tax similar to the value of the cess that prevailed,” the statement said. There was a total duty of 90 percent on the tiles and sanitaryware sector with an import cess of 35 percent, Customs duty of 30 percent or Rs.100 per square meter, Value Added Tax of 15 percent, Na tion Building Tax of 2 percent and the Port and Airport Levy of 7.50 percent.