100 Years of India’s Wire-Nail Industry: A Retrospective

Swift Summary

• Date: September 18, 1925.
• Location: Calcutta.
• Event: Mr. Khusiram, proprietor of the Punjab Wire-nail Factory in Amritsar, gave evidence before the Tariff Board.
• Key Issue: Mr. Khusiram highlighted difficulties faced by the factory due to high customs duties (approximately 35%) on imported wires required for manufacturing products like panel pins and tacks.
• Concern: the factory struggles to operate profitably or compete with foreign-made articles despite some products already having a protective duty of 10%.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
The evidence provided by Mr. Khusiram underscores a critical challenge for India’s manufacturing sector during this period-dependence on costly imported raw materials and insufficient protective tariffs to counter foreign competition. The disparity between the import duty on wires and the low tariff protection for finished goods demonstrates an imbalance that hampers domestic industries’ growth potential.

This case raises broader implications regarding india’s economic policies under colonial rule in protecting local enterprises from global market pressures. establishing a fair tariff structure could enable more equitable competition while fostering industrial self-sufficiency-an aspect essential for long-term economic stability during that era.