REX registered 0% duty into the EU, UK, Canada & Japan — see current status

Buying from Nepal into India

Knitwear from Nepal for Indian buyers

Conditional Nepal–India Treaty of Trade From Nepal: 0% basic customs duty if origin rules are met Standard cotton tee: 20% Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India (source: Customs Tariff of India – Chapter 61 (basic customs duty), opens in a new tab)

Does imported fabric still qualify?

The Protocol to Article V of the Treaty of Trade grants duty-free, quota-free access for articles manufactured in Nepal that (i) undergo a change of HS classification at 4-digit level from all third-country materials, which knitting fabric (Chapter 60) into garments (Chapter 61) does, and (ii) contain materials from outside Nepal and India worth no more than 70% of the FOB price (valued at CIF on entry into Nepal), with the final process in Nepal. Our fabric is mostly imported from China, so the 70% test must be calculated per style: lighter, lower-cost fabrics and higher making value pass more easily. Indian-origin fabric counts as local. We confirm eligibility before quoting duty-free. Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal (source: Treaty of Trade between Nepal and India, with Protocol (Article V rules of origin), opens in a new tab) Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal (source: Trade agreements – Treaty of Trade with the Republic of India, opens in a new tab)

What you receive and use at import

Why India buyers work with us

Close to north India

Road delivery across the open Nepal–India border means short lead times and small, frequent shipments without ocean freight.

Low MOQ

1,000 pieces per style per colour, with samples in 7–14 days.

Margin calculator

What does 0% duty put back in your margin?

Example FOB prices are illustrative, not our quote. Duty is charged on customs value (usually CIF in the EU/UK, FOB in Canada and the US), so real savings are often slightly higher. Rates verified 2026-09-24; confirm your HS line with your customs broker.

Standard duty into India: 20% · from Nepal: 20%

You keep, per year

$0

Per piece
$0.00
Per order
$0

0% here depends on the rule of origin for your fabric — we confirm it per style before you order.

How importing into India works →
Minimum order
1,000
Per style / colour · flexible per programme
Sampling
7–14
After tech-pack review
Bulk lead time
40–50
After sample approval
Monthly capacity
26–30k
Knit basics · confirmed per programme

Questions from India buyers

Straight answers.

Are garments from Nepal duty-free in India?
They are free of basic customs duty if they meet the treaty rules of origin (change of 4-digit HS heading and no more than 70% third-country materials by FOB value) and carry a Nepali certificate of origin. IGST still applies.
Does imported Chinese fabric disqualify the garment?
Not automatically. The heading-change test is met, but the Chinese fabric counts toward the 70% cap, so eligibility depends on each style’s costing. We calculate it per style.
Is there a quota on Nepali garments?
Garments are not on the treaty’s special annex that limits certain Nepali goods, so qualifying garments face no quota.
Is the treaty changing?
Both governments agreed in September 2026 to review it, with a technical committee due within six months. We will update this page when changes are announced.

Guides for India importers

Sources & last verified

Page facts checked

We link every trade claim to the body that publishes it — official sources first. Rules change; if you spot something out of date, tell us.

  1. 01 Customs Tariff of India – Chapter 61 (basic customs duty) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  2. 02 Canada’s unilateral tariff preference programs for imports from developing countries (LDCT renewed to 2034; three-year post-graduation transition) Department of Finance Canada · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  3. 03 The EU’s renewed GSP scheme: key updates for 2027 (Regulation (EU) 2026/1395; EBA for 2026 graduates at least until end-2029) European Commission – Access2Markets · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  4. 04 Preference tier graduation: Bhutan (three-year DCTS transition after UN LDC graduation) GOV.UK – Department for Business and Trade · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  5. 05 Treaty of Trade between Nepal and India, with Protocol (Article V rules of origin) Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  6. 06 Trade agreements – Treaty of Trade with the Republic of India Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), Government of Nepal · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  7. 07 Nepal – graduation status (scheduled 24 November 2026; 2026 extension request, CDP and ECOSOC) United Nations – LDC Portal · official · checked 24 Sept 2026
  8. 08 Nepal, India agree to review treaty amid widening trade deficit (23 Sep 2026) The Kathmandu Post · checked 24 Sept 2026
  9. 09 Nepal will seek delayed LDC graduation citing economic constraints (16 May 2026) The Kathmandu Post · checked 24 Sept 2026
  10. 10 LDC graduation extension: ECOSOC recommends UNGA to take decision on Bangladesh, Nepal (July 2026) UNB (United News of Bangladesh) · checked 24 Sept 2026

Namaste — let’s talk

Sourcing for India? Let’s cost it properly.

Send a tech pack, a photo or just an idea. You’ll hear back from the people who run the floor — usually within 24 hours, Nepal time.

Get a quote WhatsApp