Push For Ecommerce Exports: CBIC Extends Benefits Under RoDTEP For Courier Shipments

With an eye on spurring ecommerce exports, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Friday (September 13) extended export-related benefits under the remission of duties and taxes on exported products (RoDTEP) scheme to shipments made through courier mode.

In a notification, the CBIC also said that sops under duty drawback as well as rebate of state and central levies and taxes (RoSCTL) schemes will also be extended for exports made through courier mode. The new benefits came into effect from September 12. 

The developments came as the board approved amendments to the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010. 

“The move aims to provide (a) level playing field and a conducive environment for inclusive and harmonious growth of exports through courier mode and seeks to enhance the competitiveness of MSME exporters. This initiative is expected to give a major boost to courier exports and strengthen India’s position in the era of (the) emerging global ecommerce sector,” said an official statement. 

Under new rules, authorities will now use the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) at the international courier terminals (ICTs) to process certain export related payments such as duty drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL. 

At present, all import and export courier shipments are handled on the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS), which cannot process such export related payments due to “system limitations”. 

The latest rules are expected to streamline ecommerce exports out of India. However, this is not the first time that authorities have taken steps to spur such exports. In July, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal reportedly said that a regulatory framework to boost ecommerce exports would be ready by September. 

Besides, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) was said to be working with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other concerned ministries to formulate steps to promote ecommerce exports in the country. 

Not just this, the DGFT, last year, also inked partnerships with ecommerce majors such as Amazon to spur ecommerce exports out of the country. It was previously also reported that the department was holding talks with Flipkart, eBay, Rivexa, Shopclues, among others to fuel exports from India in 2023. 

As per government estimates, Indian authorities have set their eyes on enabling $200-$300 Bn in ecommerce exports from India by 2030. In a fresh estimate, the finance ministry said that India’s ecommerce exports could likely surge to as much as $400 Bn by 2030.