Clear first pay later: EMI- A fast customs clearance scheme to strengthen trusted taxpayers
Shri Yogendra Garg, Member and Special Secretary, CBIC, Ministry of Finance, addressed the CII outreach programme on the EMI Scheme and its linkage with AEO in Mumbai on 17 April 2026. He underscored it as a trust-based customs reform designed to transform trade facilitation. He highlighted that the EMI Scheme enables approved manufacturer importers to defer payment of customs duties, allowing consolidation and settlement at the end of a monthly cycle instead of transaction wise payments. This significantly improves cash flow, reduces working capital pressures, and accelerates clearance of goods by removing delays linked to duty payments.
Shri Garg noted that the scheme serves as a facilitative pathway into the AEO programme, encouraging compliant businesses to evolve into globally recognised trusted trade partners, while aligning with global best practices and strengthening ease of doing business and domestic manufacturing.
Shri Garg further stated that the scheme, operational from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028, has been designed as a transition window for manufacturers to progressively upgrade to AEO levels. Supported by a dedicated helpdesk from the Directorate of International Customs, the initiative addresses liquidity constraints while maintaining the integrity of risk based customs systems.
Emphasising a shift towards a more trust based engagement between customs and trade, Shri Garg encouraged industry to actively participate and move towards higher compliance standards. He added that the reform not only supports the Make in Bharat vision, including supporting the broader goal of faster clearances, with an aspiration towards achieving near real time processing. This will also help position India as a proactive contributor to global trade facilitation through a balanced focus on liquidity, compliance, and trust.
Shri Piruz Khambatta, Chairman, CII National Committee on Taxation and Group Chairman, Rasna Private Ltd. welcomed participants and underscored that recent customs reforms, particularly the duty deferment framework and the Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) scheme, mark a shift toward a facilitative, technology-driven, and trust-based trade ecosystem.
Shri Khambatta highlighted the role of CBIC, Customs, and the Ministry of Finance in advancing measures such as “clear first, pay later,” improving liquidity, easing compliance, and supporting manufacturing. He noted that EMI serves as a bridge to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, enabling businesses to progress toward globally recognized trusted trader status, and emphasized that these reforms will strengthen India’s global trade competitiveness with active industry participation.
Shri Vimal Kumar Srivastava, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Customs Zone–II, highlighted the EMI Scheme as a strategic measure that will support Make in India initiative, enhance EoDB and reduce transaction costs for manufacturer-importers. Noting its strong linkage with the AEO programme, he described EMI as a key enabler for building compliance and guiding businesses toward globally trusted trader status, thereby enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of India’s trade ecosystem.
Shri Akhil Kumar Khatri, IRS, Chief Commissioner, Directorate of International Customs, Delhi spoke in detail about the AEO programe as India’s trade facilitation framework, built on trust, transparency, and strong compliance. He said that EMI serves as a pathway, enabling businesses to progressively transition into the AEO programme and achieve higher levels of trade facilitation. He spoke in detail about the thresholds for EMI application, eligibility criteria, compliance requirements and the proactive grievance redressal mechanism.
Shri Rajesh Kumar, IRS, Commissioner, Directorate of International Customs, Delhi, highlighted that the EMI Scheme enables eligible manufacturer importers to “clear first, pay later” with up to 30 days’ duty deferment, significantly improving liquidity and ease of doing business. He noted that the scheme broadens access beyond AEO entities, accelerates clearances, and strengthens supply chain efficiency. Importantly, it also serves as a stepping stone for firms to transition into the AEO Programme and achieve globally recognized trusted trader status.