25-Mar-2022: Anti-Dumping Duty On Chinese Products

The Central Government (Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance), on the basis of the recommendations of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce, has imposed  anti-dumping duty for five years on five Chinese products recently namely certain flat rolled products of aluminium, sodium hydrosulphite, silicone sealant, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) component R-32 and hydrofluorocarbon blends.

Apart from the above five products, the DGTR has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duty on other products originating in or exported from China PR in 2021-22. The details of these products are given below:

6-May-2019: Anti-dumping duty on the import of saccharine from Indonesia.

The Finance Ministry has, on the recommendations of the Commerce Ministry, imposed an anti-dumping duty of $1,633.17 per tonne on the import of saccharine from Indonesia.

Saccharin is an artificial, or non-nutritive, sweetener. The substance was first discovered in 1878 by researcher Constantin Fahlberg. Its popularity increased during the 1960s and 1970s among dieters as a result of its ‘calorie-free’ status.

Saccharine is a compound most commonly used in sugar-substitute sweeteners. It is used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and medicines.

It is 200 to 700 times sweeter than sucrose, does not raise blood sugar levels and like all non-nutritive sweeteners has no calories. However, it does have a bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. Saccharin is unstable when heated but does not react chemically with other food ingredients, which makes it good for storage.

Indonesia, until recently, accounted for a large chunk of India’s saccharine imports. However, imports from Indonesia have declined since then. In the April 2018 to February 2019 period, India imported only 20% of its total saccharine imports from Indonesia.

According to Government of India, saccharine has been exported to India from Indonesia below their normal values and consequently, the Indian domestic industry has suffered a lot.

8-Apr-2018: Anti-dumping Duty on Import of Phosphorus Pentoxide from China

The revenue department has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Phosphorus Pentoxide from China to protect the domestic manufacturers from cheap shipments.

As per a notification of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), anti-dumping duty of USD 1,685.42 per metric tonne has been imposed on import of Phosphorus Pentoxide from China for 5 years.

Phosphorus Pentoxide is used as a powerful desiccant and dehydrating agent and is a useful building block and reagent in the chemical industry.

Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) had carried out a probe into the imports of the chemical to ascertain if the shipments were causing injury to the domestic manufacturer of the chemical. The probe was aimed to determine the "existence, degree and effect" of alleged dumping and to recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty, which, if levied would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

After the investigation, the DGAD concluded that the chemical was being exported to India below the normal value and domestic industry suffered material injury on account of dumped imports. Based on the recommendation of the DGAD, the revenue department imposed the levy on the import of the chemical from China.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.

Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.

9-Aug-2017: Anti-dumping duty imposed on 93 products from China

Anti-dumping duty is in force on 93 products including chemicals and machinery items imported from China. The other Chinese products on which India has imposed this duty include steel and other metals, fibres and yarn, rubber or plastic, electric and electronics and consumer goods.

In addition, 40 cases concerning imports from China have been initiated by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties.

Countries impose anti-dumping duties to guard domestic industry from surge in below-cost imports. These steps are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict import or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.

India’s exports to China include iron ore, cotton yarn, petroleum products, copper and chemicals, while imports include telecom instruments, electronic components, computer hardware, industrial machinery and chemicals.

15-May-2017: Anti-dumping duty imposed on clear float glass imports from Iran

The Finance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on ‘clear float glass’ imports from Iran. The definitive anti-dumping duty, imposed by the Revenue Department and which will be valid for five years, ranged from ‘nil’ to $55.59 per tonne, depending on the producer and exporter.

Clear float glass, which is a superior quality of glass, is used in the construction, refrigeration, mirror and solar energy industries.