AMCHAM’s Western Region organized a knowledge-sharing webinar, ‘Decoding GST 2.0 | Navigating the 56th GST Council Reforms,’ on September 11^th, which brought together industry leaders and tax experts to discuss the landmark reforms introduced by the 56th GST Council and their far-reaching implications across sectors. The webinar began with Ms. Rakhi Sikka, Regional Director – Western Region, AMCHAM India, warmly welcoming participants, followed by Mr. Hitesh Sharma, Western Region Executive Committee Member, AMCHAM and Tax Partner, EY India, who set the tone for the discussion by framing the key issues around GST 2.0. Mr. Uday Pimprikar, National Leader, Indirect Tax Services, EY India, in a presentation, elaborated on the broad contours of the reforms and their potential impact. The session then moved into a panel discussion featuring Mr. Ketan Palan, Head of Tax, Pfizer India, Mr. Uday Pimprikar, National Leader, Indirect Tax Services, EY India, and Mr. Suresh Nair, Tax Partner, EY India, with the discussion moderated by Mr. Hitesh Sharma. Key highlights of the deliberations included the reduction of GST rates on 450 items with 90% seeing a decrease, the simplification of the structure into two main rates of 5% and 18%, and the sectoral implications of these reforms. The pharma industry welcomed the changes for enhancing affordability and simplifying classification, while raising concerns about the inverted duty structure, the automobile sector highlighted potential issues with compensation cess credits, and FMCG and services industry representatives underscored the need for structural reforms and procedural simplifications. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A where members actively sought clarity on various aspects of GST 2.0 and its sectoral impact. The program served as a timely and valuable platform for AMCHAM members to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving GST landscape and to better prepare for the opportunities and challenges arising from these significant reforms.