Apple, Dell, others get reprieve as India backtracks on laptop import restrictions
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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Dell (NYSE:DELL), HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Samsung (OTCPK:SSNLF) and Lenovo (OTCPK:LNVGY) (OTCPK:LNVGF) got a reprieve after India said it will no longer consider imposing restrictions on laptop imports, Reuters reported. 
That said, importers should "be on close watch," Sunil Barthwal, Indiaâs trade secretary said at a press conference on Friday, according to the news outlet.
The import licensing regime was announced on August 3 and delayed three months after objections.
The PC industry and the U.S. government criticized earlier plans to restrict imports under the guise of ensuring âtrusted hardware and systemsâ enter the country. 
The India PC market, which includes desktops, notebooks and workstations, grew 5.9% quarter-over-quarter and declined by 15% year-over-year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.
The education and government segments continued to drive the PC market, while the enterprise segment struggled. Government-driven education projects for a few states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu propelled the education segment, which grew by nearly 44% year-over-year.
Overall, India IT spending is projected to grow 2.6% this year, according to a forecast by Gartner. Global inflation and a weaker rupee won't hold back demand in key segments of IT, the firm said. 
âThe headwinds are in favor of technology as businesses realized how going digital can benefit them in the long run," Arup Roy, an analyst at Gartner, said. 
The government is holding consultations with the industry and a new order on laptop imports will be announced by the end of October, Directorate General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said, Reuters reported. Details were not disclosed.

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