The Traders’ body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) extended an invitation to about 150 national business associations, trade bodies, chambers of several different industries to join forces against the apparent malpractices of e-commerce companies and to ensure a smooth release of an impending e-commerce policy. The policy is being currently drafted by the DPIIT of the Ministry of Commerce and the trader’s apex body fears that the foreign e-commerce companies will thwart the rolling out of the proposed policy.
In a statement, CAIT said that it has invited “all such bodies to forge a bigger alliance to foil any possible attempt by global e-commerce companies to derail the rolling out of proposed e-commerce policy which is under drafting stage by DPIIT of Ministry of commerce.”
CAIT represents about 8 crore traders across 40,000 trade associations of India. To form a bigger consortium and rally support for the new policy, CAIT has formed a joint task force along with other trade bodies such as -
India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA)
All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA)
All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA)
All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF)
National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI)
All India Jewelers and Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF)
Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA)
Computer Media Dealers Association (CMDA)
MSME Development Forum
Federation of Indian Small and Micro Enterprises (FISME).
CAIT has alleged that foreign c-commerce giants such as Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart indulge in unfair business practices such as deep discounting and preferential seller treatment.
The national e-commerce policy has been under the drafting stage for nearly four years and several trade bodies, MSME associations, e com companies, and retailers had also met DPIIT's additional secretary Anil Agrawal to discuss the policy. MSME bodies had appealed to the government to give fair play to them in commerce so that they can compete with large sellers and corporations.
The trade associations had also discussed issues surrounding FDI, GST registration for selling on e-commerce websites, transparent pricing and no monopolies by any single seller or platform.
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