India's steel user industries, comprising over 10,000 units, are grappling with significant operational and financial difficulties stemming from prolonged port delays and complex regulatory frameworks, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in Delhi. The think tank has called for urgent reforms to streamline import processes and implement digitized systems to alleviate these concerns. GTRI noted that protective measures for domestic steelmakers, such as import restrictions and quality control mandates, have inadvertently burdened industries reliant on imported steel. Heightened scrutiny of imports has disrupted operations and exports for manufacturers of specialty and stainless steel products. Additionally, the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) frequently malfunctions, exacerbating delays. GTRI urges the government to adopt more efficient policies that ensure quality control orders apply only to domestically available steel products, warning that without these changes, policy-induced delays could hinder India's manufacturing ambitions.