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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
NOTIFICATION No. 22/2020-Customs
New Delhi dated the 12th May, 2020
G.S.R……(E).— Whereas the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (hereinafter referred to
as the ‘designated authority’) in the matter concerning imports of “Refined Bleached
Deodorized Palmolein and Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil” (hereinafter referred to as
the ‘subject goods’), falling under tariff item [1511 90 10] or tariff item [1511 90 20] of the
First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the
Customs Tariff Act), initiated an investigation in terms of rule 9 of the India Malaysia
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Bilateral Safeguard Measures) Rules,
2017 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules) vide notice of initiation Case No. (SG) 04/2019,
dated the 14th August 2019, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-I, Section 1,
dated the 14th August 2019.
And Whereas, in the preliminary findings issued vide notification (Bilateral Safeguard
Investigation) case no (SG) 04/2019, dated the 26th August 2019, published in the Gazette of
India, Extraordinary, Part-I, Section 1 dated the 26th August, 2019, the designated authority
came to a preliminary conclusion that critical circumstances exist where delay in imposition of
safeguard measures would cause irreparable damage to the domestic producers and
recommended an increase in rate of duty of customs by 5 percent, for a period of 180 days, on
imports of subject goods, originating in Malaysia and imported under India-Malaysia
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the ‘CECA’).
And Whereas, on basis of the aforesaid findings of the designated authority, the
Central Government imposed provisional Bilateral Safeguard Duty on the subject goods vide
notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue),
No. 29/2019-Customs, dated the 4th September 2019, published in the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 632 (E), dated the 4th
September 2019 by making further amendments in the notification of the Government of India
in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No.53/2011-Customs, dated the 1st July,
2011, published in the Gazette of India, vide number G.S.R. 499 (E), dated the 1st July, 2011.
And Whereas, the designated authority in its final findings issued vide notification
(Bilateral Safeguard Investigation) case no (SG) 04/2019, dated the 28th February 2020,
published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-I, Section 1, dated the 28th February 2020
has noted and made the following conclusions namely: -
(a) when the investigation was underway, the Government amended the import policy
of items under HS Code 151190 10 (Refined Bleached Deodorised palm oil, HS
Code 151190 20 (Refined Bleached Deodorised Palmolein) and HS Code 151190
90 (others) vide Notification No. 39/2015-2020, dated the 8
th January 2010 thus
placing the subject goods under “Restricted” category.
(b) that basic customs duty under Free Trade Agreement between the Governments of
Member States of the Association of South East Asian Nations (hereinafter referred
to as the ‘ASEAN FTA’) and the Republic of India (which includes Malaysia) and
CECA has also changed w.e.f. 1st January, 2020 and the difference between crude
palm oil and Refined Palmolein or Palm Oil is 7.5% in both these Agreements.
(c) safeguard duty in the present agreement without similar duty under ASEAN FTA
would mean a futile safeguard duty, as the consumers would utilise benefit under
ASEAN FTA.
(d) in view of the above stated facts, it is considered that the bilateral safeguard duty
imposed vide notification no. 29/2019-customs, dated 4th September, 2019 under
the CECA on the import of Refined Bleached Deodorised Palm Oil” and “Refined
Bleached Deodorised Palmolein” for a period of 180 days from the date of
imposition of the provisional duty is sufficient in the present circumstances and it
may not be necessary to impose safeguard duty beyond the current period of 180
days.
and has confirmed the Preliminary Findings issued vide Notification No. 22/4/2019, dated
the 26th August, 2019 and recommend that: -
(a) bilateral safeguard duty may be imposed on imports of subject goods from the
subject country in the form and manner described in the Preliminary findings issued
vide Notification No. 22/4/2019, dated
the 26th August, 2019 under the CECA on the
import of Refined Bleached Deodorised Palm Oil” and “Refined Bleached
Deodorised Palmolein” for a period of 180 days from the date of imposition of the
provisional duty by the Central Government issued vide notification no. 29/2019-customs, dated 4th September, 2019.
(b) in view of the above conclusions, no further extension of bilateral safeguard duty
is required.
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of
the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962) read with rule 9 of the said Rules, the Central Government,
after considering the aforesaid final findings of the designated authority, hereby confirms the
imposition of bilateral safeguard duty on the subject goods falling under tariff item [1511 90
10] or tariff item [1511 90 20] of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, originating in
Malaysia and imported under India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement for a period of 180 days from the date of initial imposition of such duty (i.e. the 4th
of September 2019), and was notified vide notification of the Government of India in the
Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), notification no. 29/2019-customs, dated 4th September, 2019,
published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number
G.S.R. 632 (E), dated the 4th September 2019.
[F. No. 354/132/2019-TRU]
(Gaurav Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
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