Govt Opens Applications For Import Quotas Covering 30 Products Under Oman CEPA Till Aug 19

New Delhi, Aug 4 (KNN) The government has invited applications for the allocation of import quotas for the financial year 2026–27 under the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into effect on June 1, 2026.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), through a public notice dated August 3, has opened applications from August 4 to August 19 for imports under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) mechanism. 

The quotas cover 30 products, including dates, marble and travertine, aluminium ingots, petrochemicals and select plastic products.

Tariff concessions under TRQ

Under the agreement, specified quantities of certain goods can be imported at reduced or zero duty. For instance, the existing 30 per cent import duty on dates will be waived for up to 2,000 tonnes annually. 

Similarly, the duty on marble and travertine blocks will be reduced from 40 per cent to 25 per cent for imports priced at or above USD 150 per metric tonne, subject to a quota of one lakh tonnes.

Other items eligible under TRQ include ethylene glycol, linear alkylbenzenes, polyethylene variants, polypropylene, PVC resin, PET flakes, and aluminium products such as ingots and wires.

Application process and requirements

Imports under the scheme will follow procedures outlined in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023. 

Applicants must submit additional documents depending on the product category. These include a Chartered Engineer certificate for marble blocks, pre-purchase agreements for marble slabs, and a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for certain PET products.

Boost to bilateral trade

The CEPA provides significant market access benefits. Oman has offered zero-duty access on over 98 per cent of its tariff lines, covering more than 99 per cent of India’s exports to the country. 

Key Indian sectors expected to benefit include gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, plastics, sports goods and pharmaceuticals.

(KNN Bureau)