India, Taiwan urge WTO to delay ICT duties ruling as talks continue

India and Taiwan on Tuesday requested the dispute settlement body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization to delay the adoption of a ruling against New Delhi's import duties on certain information and technology products till April 21, 2026, saying they are working on resolving the issue mutually. The WTO is set to take up the issue on October 24.

India, in a joint request by the separate customs territories of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, said, "The DSB shall no later than April 21, 2026 adopt the report of the panel in the dispute India - Tariff Treatment on Certain Goods in the Information and Communications Technology Sector."

The adoption of the ruling has so far been deferred seven times.


The dispute was filed in 2019 when Japan, the EU and Taiwan had challenged the import duty of 7.5% levied by India-and later increased to 15%-in 2017. India further raised it to 20% in a bid to boost local manufacturing. New Delhi has already appealed against the ruling in its similar dispute with Japan and the EU.

"We consider that the draft DSB decision, if adopted, would facilitate the resolution of the dispute," the WTO members told the multilateral trade watchdog in a joint request.

"If adopted, it would facilitate the resolution of the dispute," they said.

India and Taiwan are engaged in resolving the dispute mutually. If the talks fail, Taiwan could adopt the WTO panel filings and India could take the case to the Appellate Body of the WTO, which has not been functional for more than three years due to the US blocking the appointment of judges.

As per the rules of the WTO, the panel's ruling will have to be adopted by the DSB for implementation within 60 days of the release of the order..