NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of widening trade gap with China, India today extended for five years anti- dumping duty on import of four Chinese products, including silk fabrics and a sweetener.
The duty is imposed to protect the domestic industry from cheap imports. Import of certain type of silk fabrics from China will attract anti-dumping duty of $1.82 to USD 7.59 per metre, a notification of the Revenue Department said.
The duty was first imposed on the fabrics in December 2006 till December 2011. India had a trade deficit of USD 16 billion against China during 2010-11. It has already crossed USD 20 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal.
The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping (DGAD) had carried a suo motu sunset review probe in December 2010 to examine whether cessation of the duty would lead to continuation of dumping and injury to the domestic players. Following the review, the DGAD had recommended continuation and enhancement of the anti-dumping duty.
"The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier)...," the Revenue Department said.
It further said the duty on import of certain type of nylon filament yarn from China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea will be imposed at USD 0.20 to USD 1.51 per kilogram for another five years.
Notifications for extension of anti-dumping duty on imports of cellophane transparent film and saccharin from China for five years have also been issued. Saccharin is a non-nutritive sweetener and considered to be low calorie substitute for cane sugar.
Meanwhile, the government has also levied provisional anti-dumping duty on import of phosphoric acid (excluding agriculture /fertiliser grade) from Israel and Taiwan. The duty at $116.25 to USD 260.26 per tonne has been imposed for six months.
India has so far initiated about 150 anti-dumping cases against China, which account for over half of such actions taken by the country against foreign nations.
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com