'Luxury, not necessity': Trade body demands 28% GST on e-commerce; seeks crackdown on malpractices
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has demanded the immediate imposition of a 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on e-commerce and quick commerce deliveries, arguing that such convenience should be treated as a luxury and taxed accordingly.
The demand was part of a series of resolutions adopted at CAIT's two-day National Governing Council meeting held in Bhubaneswar on April 25–26, attended by over 200 prominent trade leaders from 26 states across India.
In a strong message to policymakers, CAIT accused e-commerce and quick commerce companies of "continuously violating rules and laws, selling counterfeit products, and conspiring to destroy the businesses of small traders." The traders' body demanded immediate enforcement of the pending National e-Commerce Policy and strict application of rules under the Consumer Protection Act and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy.
The resolution also called for a complete halt to any kind of trade with Pakistan in the current geopolitical climate.
Trade leaders further urged the government and the GST Council to launch a comprehensive review and simplification of the GST structure, stressing the need for expanding the tax base and rationalizing tax slabs to make compliance easier and the system more business-friendly.
