NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- India on Friday lifted a ban on importing hundreds of kinds of consumer durables and agricultural goods as part of an agreement with the World Trade Organization.
But the government will still levy duties on the imports, which could be as high as 35 percent, said Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran.
The new move comes into effect Saturday, Maran told reporters while releasing the government's first export-import policy. India lifted the restrictions on 714 of 1,429 goods banned. The remaining restrictions will be lifted next year.
"Only five countries in the world -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Tunisia -- still have these restrictions. All of them have to lift the restrictions eventually under the WTO guidelines," Maran said.:
