Anti-dumping duty imposed on 5 Chinese products

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese products, including glass mirrors and cellophane transparent film, to protect domestic industries from underpriced imports.

The Indian government has imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese imports—Cellophane Transparent Film, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sulphur Black, Thermoplastic Polyurethane, and Unframed Glass Mirrors—to safeguard domestic industries from damage caused by underpriced imports from the neighbouring country. These duties, recommended by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), will be effective for five years.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane, a key material in the automotive, medical, electronics, and industrial sectors, will now have a duty of US$ 1.58 per kg, with imports valued at US$ 330 million last year. Isopropyl Alcohol, used as an antiseptic and industrial solvent, faces a duty of up to US$217 per metric tonne, with US$ 89.25 million imported last year.

Cellophane Transparent Film, primarily used for packaging, will attract a duty of US$ 1.34 per kg, with imports totaling US$ 60 million in 2023-24. Sulphur Black, used in dyeing textiles, paper, and leather, will face a duty of US$ 389 per metric tonne, following imports worth US$ 4.3 million. Unframed Glass Mirrors, which saw imports of US$ 25 million last year, will be subject to a duty of US$ 234 per metric tonne.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (Department of Revenue), issued the notification after the DGTR investigated local producers’ complaints about harmful below-cost imports.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), earlier this month, had launched investigations into the alleged dumping of six products imported from China, following complaints from domestic producers. The products under scrutiny include chemicals like 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber, certain antioxidants, Polytetrafluoroethylene, as well as black toner powder cartridges and cold rolled non-oriented electrical steel, imported from China.

Anti-dumping investigations are carried out by countries to determine if domestic industries have been impacted by an influx of underpriced imports. The countries impose these duties under the multilateral regime of Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). India and China both are members of the WTO. China is the second largest trading partner of India.