Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 23: In a bid to shield its domestic industry from cheap imports, India has imposed anti-dumping duties on four Chinese products, including aluminium foil, following findings that these goods were being exported at below-normal prices.
The affected products include soft ferrite cores, vacuum-insulated flasks, aluminium foil, and trichloro-isocyanuric acid—a chemical used in disinfectants, chlorination, and bleaching agents. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) announced that these duties will be effective for up to five years to counteract unfair pricing that has harmed local manufacturers.
Aluminium foil imports will face an anti-dumping duty of up to $873 per tonne for six months. Trichloro-isocyanuric acid, imported from China and Japan, will be subject to duties ranging from $276 to $986 per tonne. Soft ferrite cores, essential for electric vehicles, chargers, and telecom devices, will face an import duty of up to 35% of the CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value. Meanwhile, vacuum-insulated flasks will be taxed at $1,732 per tonne.
These tariffs follow an investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Commerce Ministry, which confirmed that these products were being dumped at artificially low prices, undercutting domestic producers. The imposition of such duties aligns with World Trade Organisation (WTO) guidelines, ensuring fair trade practices and preventing market distortions caused by unfair competition.
Meanwhile, on March 19, the DGTR also recommended a 12% safeguard duty on select steel products, aiming to curb an influx of cheap imports from China, South Korea, and Vietnam. This surge has been attributed to trade diversions following the higher US tariffs imposed under the Trump administration.
The proposed measures are open for public comments for 30 days, after which a final decision will be announced.