The general slowdown seen in the global mobile phone industry in late 2017 was largely due to slow shipments in developed economies, though emerging markets didn’t all do much better. Indian imports of mobile phones fell 0.5% on a year earlier in dollar terms in the fourth quarter. Yet, that included a 41% surge in December which may have been a sign of importers – led by Apple and Reliance – seeking to beat “Make in India” tariffs. Unfortunately these will also apply to components, raising costs and potentially stifling adoption of smartphones in 2018.