India’s import and export system is governed by the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act of 1992 and India’s Export Import (EXIM) Policy. Import and export of all goods are free, except for the items regulated by the EXIM policy or any other law currently in force. Registration with regional licensing authority is a prerequisite for the import and export of goods. The customs will not allow for clearance of goods unless the exporter has obtained an Import Export Code (IEC) from the regulated authority.

Exporters should project a good image of the Nation abroad to promote exports as per guidelines of Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. With this objective in mind, an enduring relationship with foreign buyers is of the utmost importance, and trade disputes, whenever they arise, should be settled as soon as possible by the exporters.

As per our experience in import export trade dispute matter, the primary reason for disputes is quality of the goods exported by the exporters. Under contractual terms in many export contracts, importer gets the opportunity to inspect the quality of goods only when the consignment reaches them. In many cases, by that time, the exporter would have got money. Even if the consignment is sent on collection basis, importer can check the quality only after retiring the documents. Other reasons for the disputes are unethical commercial dealings on the part of Indian exporters and can be categorised as non-supply of goods after confirmation of the orders, non-payment of agreed commission, non-adherence to the delivery schedule and delayed or non-shipment due to change in government regulations or market conditions, restricting exports, etc.

The Director General of Foreign Trade has been centralised with Nodal Officer and its assisting Cell viz., Trade Disputes Cell in the office of DGFT, Ministry of Commerce, New Delhi in order to deal with complaints of foreign buyers related to import export disputes.

Action against erring exporters:

Enforcement action in the office of Director General of Foreign Trade against erring exporters are being taken under the Rules & Regulations depending on the offence as follows:- Non-payment of commission, supply of sub-standard goods, non-adherence of delivery schedules, indulgence in unethical commercial dealings, amount to breach of contract for which action can be taken under clause 7 of the Export (Control) Order, by which the Central Government or Director General of Foreign Trade or an authorised officer may debar an exporter from exporting any goods if he commits a willful breach of contract. This applies to the cases pertaining to a period prior to 19-6-1992. However, cases pertaining to a period on or after, 19.6.1992 enforcement action is being taken in terms to Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 and Rules framed thereunder namely:

1. Section 8 empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade to suspend or cancel the Importer/ Exporter Code Number which is a prerequisite for any export or import, where the Director General of Foreign Trade has inter-alia reason to believe (a) that the exporter has committed an economic offence as specified by the Government or (b) that any person has made an export/import in a manner gravely prejudicial to the trade relations of India with any foreign country or to the interests of other persons engaged in imports or exports or has brought disrepute to the credit or the goods of the country.
2. Section 9(4) empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade or the officer authorised by him to grant Authorisation, to suspend or cancel any Authorisation granted under the Act. Rule 10 of the Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993 lays down the conditions for such cancellation under Section 9(4) of the said Act. This includes cases where the Authorisation has been obtained by fraud, suppression of facts or misrepresentation and where the licensee has contravened any law relating to Custom or Foreign Exchange or the Rules & Regulations relating thereto.
3. Section 11(2) of the Act provides for imposition of fiscal penalty in cases where a person makes or abets or attempts to make any import or export in contravention of any provisions of the Act, any Rules or Orders made thereunder or the Export-Import Policy. Rule 11 of the Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules 1993 requires an exporter to state in the shipping bills or any other documents prescribed under the Customs Act, 1962, the value, quality and description of export goods to the best of his knowledge and belief and to certify that the quality and specification of the goods are in accordance with the terms of the export contract and has also to subscribe a declaration at the foot of such a document that the statements made by him are true.
4. Paragraph 3.9 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade to take action against an exporter, if it comes to his notice or he has reason to believe, has made an export in a manner gravely prejudicial to (1) trade relations of India with any foreign country; (2) to the interests of other persons engaged in exports or imports and (3) has brought disrepute to the credit or the goods of the country.
5. The Director General of Foreign Trade has powers under para 2.69 of chapter 2 of the Hand Book of Procedures 2009-14 formulated in exercise of powers conferred under Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, to direct any Registering Authority to register or deregister an exporter or otherwise issue such directions to them consistent with and in order to implement the provisions of the Act, the Rules & Orders made thereunder, the Policy or the Hand Book. Besides , the Registering Authorities viz. Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards etc. may also take appropriate necessary action and view on the application furnished by the exporters for registration if, prima-facie, there are reasons to believe that he has indulged in any form of unfair, corrupt or fraudulent practice.

Adequate Opportunity is to be provided to the exporter to explain his stand before resorting to penal action by way of issuance of Show Cause Notice, personal hearing etc., as per rules. B. Certain export products have been notified for Compulsory Quality Control & Pre-shipment Inspection prior to their export. Penal action can be taken under the Export (Quality Control & Inspection) Act, 1963 as amended in 1984, against exporters who do not conform to the standards and or provisions of Act as laid down for such products.

As per the guidelines of DGFT, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, besides Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and Export (Quality Control & Inspection) Act and Export (Quality Control & Inspection) Act, there are other laws such as Indian Coffee Act, Tea Act, Coir Industry Act, Dangerous Drugs Act. Customs Act. etc. to ensure that only Quality products are exported. Inspite of these provisions, there are complaints from foreign buyers. It has, therefore, been decided by the Ministry of Commerce that in order to develop our export on a sustained and enduring basis and at the same time improve the image of our exports in international market, it is essential that such complaints are checked, sorted out and resolved quickly and amicably before taking recourse to penal action. At the same time ways and means should be found to reduce complaints/disputes to the minimum.

Apart from above, the foreign importers have option to knock the door of courts for seeking compensation as damages by filing civil suit at the appropriate court of jurisdiction and also to file a criminal complaint before the appropriate Authority if prima facie criminal offence made out against the wrong doer.

The regulated authority has framed the rules & regulations about filing of complaint as per prescribed annexure and accordingly documents in support of complaint are to be filed. We have experience in dealing import export dispute matter and dealt with such matter in India for foreign importers.

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