Export duty on Steel items – since when?

By Vijay Kumar

A CUSTOMS OFFICER HAS THIS DOUBT:

In his reply to the debate on the Finance Bill and the amendments proposed, the FM has stated that “while changes in import duty rates will be effective today, changes in export duty will come into effect on the date when the Finance Bill, 2008 receives the assent of the President”.

But does the Finance Bill speak the same? Let us have a look at the proposals in the Finance Bill:

The original entry in the third schedule to the Finance Bill presented on 29.2.2008 reads as: