India's gold imports could fall much further, by 60% to 70% if the government also presses ahead with plans for gold bonds and a controversial proposed tax amnesty on such investments.
NEW DELHI(BullionStreet): Any further hike in gold import duty could trim India's imports by 25 percent this year, according to All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation.
Federation chairman Bachhraj Bamalwa said he believes import duty on gold will be hiked to 6% in the budget scheduled for Feb. 28.
The basic customs duty on standard gold bars is 4 percent and the levy on non-standard gold is 10 percent.
He added that if the government also presses ahead with plans for bullion-backed paper investment products such as gold bonds and a controversial proposed tax amnesty on such investments, imports could fall much further, by 60%-70%.
Increase in duty will make gold costlier and at this price investors will not be interested,he warned. ...