India has imposed anti-dumping duties for five years on imports of a chemical used in the rubber and tyre industry from China, the European Union and the United States, following findings that the product was being shipped into the country at unfairly low prices, causing injury to domestic manufacturers.The move follows recommendations by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the commerce ministry’s investigation arm.According to a finance ministry notification, the anti-dumping duty on imports of ‘Sulphenamides Accelerators’ will range from $75 per tonne to $1,748 per tonne, reported PTI.“The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier),” the notification dated June 19 said.The DGTR had recommended the levy after concluding that the product was being exported from the three regions at prices below its normal value in the Indian market, resulting in dumping and material injury to the domestic industry.In a separate notification, the department of revenue extended the anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imports from China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.The duty will remain in force till December 15 this year.The government has also imposed an anti-dumping duty of $200.66 per tonne for five years on imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) resin, having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.72 decilitres per gram or higher, from China.Anti-dumping investigations are carried out to determine whether domestic industries have suffered injury due to a surge in low-priced imports.Under the rules of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO), countries can impose anti-dumping duties as a trade remedy measure when investigations establish that imported products are being sold below their normal value and are harming local manufacturers.The duties are aimed at ensuring fair trade practices and creating a level playing field for domestic producers vis-à-vis foreign producers and exporters.
