India Trade & Customs Updates: Key Changes Issued Between 01 to 08 August 2026

India’s trade and customs regulatory landscape saw several important developments during the first week of August 2026. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Ministry of Finance issued notifications, public notices, trade notices and circulars covering customs clearance, Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs), export credit support, anti-dumping duties, Central Excise, cross-border e-commerce, Advance Authorisation and export promotion.

For exporters, importers, customs brokers, logistics service providers and other trade stakeholders, these developments bring important changes in deadlines, procedures, duty rates and compliance requirements.

Here’s a closer look at the major trade and customs updates issued between 01 and 08 August 2026.

1. Anti-Dumping Duty Continues on Phthalic Anhydride Imports

The Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 20/2026-Customs (ADD) dated 5 August 2026 concerning imports of Phthalic Anhydride, classified under tariff item 2917 35 00.

The notification follows DGTR findings that dumping from the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea had continued and that cessation of the existing anti-dumping duty was likely to result in continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.

The notification prescribes anti-dumping duty at:

• USD 40.08 per MT for specified China-related origin/export combinations.

• USD 140.17 per MT for specified Republic of Korea-related origin/export combinations.

The duty will remain effective for five years from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier. The anti-dumping duty is payable in Indian currency.

What This Means for Importers

Importers dealing in Phthalic Anhydride should verify the tariff classification, country of origin, country of export and applicable anti-dumping duty before determining landed costs and filing import declarations.

2. CBIC Introduces Uniform SOP for Postal Import Clearance Through FPOs

CBIC issued Circular No. 35/2026-Customs dated 6 August 2026, prescribing a Standard Operating Procedure for customs clearance of personal imported goods through Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) under the Postal Import Regulations, 2025.

The procedure uses the FPO Import Application, which has been integrated with the Risk Management System (RMS). The application is currently operational at Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai FPO, APSO Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Delhi.

Where Electronic Advance Data (EAD) is available, assessment can be undertaken on a risk basis before the arrival of the postal article. Physical examination is generally restricted to consignments selected by RMS or identified on the basis of intelligence, regulatory requirements or discrepancies.

Where additional documents or information are required, customs officers can issue a Document Call Letter (D-Call Letter) electronically. The circular also states that queries should be specific, relevant and, as far as practicable, consolidated rather than being raised repeatedly.

If no response is received within 30 days of receipt of the D-Call Letter, or if the information provided is inadequate, the proper officer may proceed with assessment based on the declaration and information available on record.

Once assessment and other customs formalities are completed, the clearance order is communicated to the Postal Authority. No postal article can be delivered unless the clearance order has been issued and applicable customs duty has been paid or realised. Commercial and other non-personal imports continue to be governed by the existing procedure under Circular No. 14/2018-Customs.

What This Means for Trade

The SOP aims to bring greater uniformity to postal import clearance while increasing the use of electronic processing and risk-based assessment across FPOs.

3. Central Excise Notification No. 40/2026 Revises Applicable Rates

The Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 40/2026-Central Excise dated 3 August 2026, further amending Notification No. 06/2026-Central Excise dated 26 March 2026.

The notification substitutes two entries in the relevant table with:

• ₹3.50 per litre against serial number 1

• ₹24 per litre against serial number 2

The revised rates take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

What This Means for Businesses

Businesses covered by the underlying notification should update applicable Central Excise calculations and compliance configurations to reflect the revised rates.

4. Central Excise Notification No. 41/2026 Revises Rate to ₹22 per Litre

The Ministry of Finance also issued Notification No. 41/2026-Central Excise dated 3 August 2026, amending Notification No. 08/2026-Central Excise dated 26 March 2026.

Against serial number 1 of the relevant table, the applicable entry has been substituted with:

₹22 per litre.

The amendment comes into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

What This Means for Businesses

Businesses to which the underlying notification applies should incorporate the revised rate into their Central Excise calculations from the effective date.

5. Central Excise Notification No. 42/2026 Revises Rate to ₹1.50 per Litre

Under Notification No. 42/2026-Central Excise dated 3 August 2026, the Ministry of Finance further amended Notification No. 11/2026-Central Excise dated 26 March 2026.

Against serial number 2 in the relevant table, the substituted rate is:

₹1.50 per litre.

The change comes into effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

What This Means for Businesses

Affected businesses should ensure that applicable duty calculations and compliance records reflect the revised rate.

6. Seven New SIONs Introduced for Chemical and Allied Products

DGFT issued Public Notice No. 23/2026-27 dated 3 August 2026, notifying new Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) under Product Group ‘A’ – Chemical and Allied Products.

Seven new norms have been introduced, numbered:

A-3708 to A-3714.

The covered products include Theophylline (Anhydrous), Liraglutide injection, Lumefantrine, Meropenem formulations and Ophthalmic Solution.

The notice states that fixation of these SIONs will enable Regional Authorities to grant Advance Authorisations directly in eligible cases without referring individual applications to the Norms Committee, thereby facilitating faster processing and greater uniformity in the fixation of norms.

What This Means for Exporters

Eligible chemical and pharmaceutical exporters covered by the newly notified SIONs may benefit from a more streamlined Advance Authorisation process.

7. India–Oman CEPA: TRQ Applications Invited for FY 2026–27

DGFT issued Public Notice No. 24/2026-27 dated 3 August 2026, inviting applications for allocation of Tariff Rate Quota under the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for FY 2026–27.

Applications can be submitted from:

4 August 2026 to 19 August 2026.

The product table covers multiple goods, including fresh dates, marble and travertine, ethylene glycol, linear alkylbenzenes, polyethylene products, polypropylene, ABS copolymers, PVC resin, PET-related products, marble products and aluminium products.

The Public Notice specifies product-wise TRQ quantities and eligibility requirements.

What This Means for Importers

Importers seeking preferential tariff access under the India–Oman CEPA should check their applicable HS codes, available quota and eligibility requirements and submit applications within the specified period.

8. DGFT Operationalises the Inventory-Based E-Commerce Framework

Alongside Notification No. 27/2026-27, DGFT issued Public Notice No. 25/2026-27 dated 5 August 2026 to operationalise the Inventory-Based Cross-Border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework through the Handbook of Procedures.

A new Aayaat Niryaat Form (ANF) 9A has been introduced for registration of Exporters-on-Record.

Under the operational framework, an EOR is required to maintain digital records that link procurement records, GST invoices and export documentation with the respective Sellers-on-Record.

The EOR is also responsible for ensuring that Export Inventory corresponds with the descriptions, specifications and quality parameters declared by the Seller-on-Record.

The framework additionally covers destination-country requirements relating to areas such as testing, inspection, certification, licensing, labelling, packaging, safety warnings and product information.

It also provides for the handling and transfer of seller-attributable Export Rebates and Refunds, including their disbursement to the Seller-on-Record within the prescribed timeframe.

What This Means for E-Commerce Businesses

Businesses adopting the EOR model will need strong digital recordkeeping, inventory traceability and seller-level documentation. The framework brings greater structure to how inventory, export compliance and seller-attributable export benefits are managed.

9. India–UK CETA: TRQ Application Deadline Extended to 9 August 2026

DGFT issued Public Notice No. 26/2026-27 dated 5 August 2026, extending the deadline for submitting online applications for allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) under the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) for calendar year 2026.

Following representations received from trade and industry, the last date for submission of online applications has been extended to 9 August 2026.

All other terms and conditions prescribed under Public Notice No. 19/2026-27 dated 9 July 2026 and Public Notice No. 22/2026-27 dated 20 July 2026 remain unchanged.

What This Means for Trade

Eligible businesses seeking TRQ allocation under the India–UK CETA have an additional window to submit their applications. Businesses planning to avail quota-based tariff benefits should ensure that applications are completed within the revised deadline.

10. Inventory-Based Cross-Border E-Commerce Export Framework Introduced

DGFT issued Notification No. 27/2026-27 dated 5 August 2026, introducing an Inventory-Based Cross-Border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.

The framework establishes concepts including:

• Exporter-on-Record (EOR): An eligible entity registered with DGFT that exports and sells goods procured from Sellers-on-Record to buyers outside India.

• Seller-on-Record (SOR): An entity registered in India under the applicable GST law that supplies goods produced in India to the EOR against confirmed export orders.

• Export Inventory: Goods procured by an EOR against confirmed export orders and held exclusively for export.

The framework is intended to facilitate e-commerce exports through an inventory-based model in which the EOR holds inventory, undertakes export-related processes and enables Sellers-on-Record to access international markets.

What This Means for E-Commerce Exporters

The framework creates a formal structure for inventory-led cross-border e-commerce exports and defines the respective roles of Exporters-on-Record and Sellers-on-Record.

11. DPIIT-Recognised Start-ups Get Access to “Source from India”

DGFT’s Trade Notice No. 16/2026-27 dated 6 August 2026 expands participation in the “Source from India” feature available through the Trade Connect ePlatform.

The initiative helps international buyers discover Indian exporters and enables participating businesses to showcase their products and credentials through dedicated microsites.

The latest Trade Notice extends the framework to eligible DPIIT-recognised start-ups.

Eligible start-ups can be onboarded after verification of their export activity through the DGFT IEC database and can receive a unique start-up badge on their profiles.

A special provision also allows DPIIT-recognised start-ups that do not otherwise meet the standard eligibility criteria to register, provided they have an active IEC and are not included in the DEL list.

What This Means for Start-up Exporters

The change provides export-focused Indian start-ups with another official channel to showcase their products and improve their visibility among international buyers.

12. Export Credit Interest Subvention Implementation Shifts from RBI to EXIM Bank

DGFT issued Trade Notice No. 17/2026-27 dated 7 August 2026 concerning Interest Subvention Support for Pre- and Post-Shipment Export Credit under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) – Niryat Protsahan.

The implementing agency has formally transitioned from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) with effect from 1 April 2026.

EXIM Bank will handle operationalisation, portal management, verification and claim-settlement workflows from that date.

However, supplementary or additional claims from participating lending banks for the January–March 2026 quarter will continue to be processed by RBI.

Lending institutions will continue to pass the applicable interest-subvention benefit upfront to eligible MSME exporters. The corresponding reimbursement will now be claimed from EXIM Bank instead of RBI.

EXIM Bank will also scrutinise IEC-specific claims to ensure that the prescribed annual subvention ceiling per IEC is not exceeded and will submit consolidated fund claims to DGFT through the designated portal.

What This Means for Exporters

The exporter-facing benefit continues, but banks and stakeholders involved in reimbursement and claim settlement need to align their operational processes with the EXIM Bank framework.

What These Updates Mean for Indian Trade

The regulatory developments issued between 01 and 08 August 2026 point toward a broader shift in India’s trade environment.

Customs procedures are becoming increasingly digital, standardised and risk-based, as reflected in the new Foreign Post Office clearance SOP. At the same time, India’s trade agreements with the UK and Oman are opening preferential tariff opportunities that require businesses to closely monitor TRQ application windows and eligibility requirements.

DGFT is also expanding export facilitation through new SIONs, increased visibility for DPIIT-recognised start-ups and a structured inventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework.

The transition of export credit interest-subvention administration from RBI to EXIM Bank further changes the operational framework supporting eligible exporters, while the anti-dumping and Central Excise notifications reinforce the importance of maintaining accurate and current duty information.

For exporters, importers, customs brokers and logistics businesses, regulatory changes need to move quickly from notification to operational action.

Missing a deadline, applying an outdated duty rate, overlooking an anti-dumping requirement or following an outdated clearance procedure can lead to incorrect filings, additional costs and avoidable delays.

Staying informed and keeping trade processes aligned with the latest regulatory requirements remains essential for smoother and more compliant cross-border operations.