India has imposed anti-dumping duties on two Chinese products, cold-rolled non-oriented electrical steel and 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) refrigerant gas, to shield domestic manufacturers from below-market imports.
Steel imports from certain Chinese firms will attract duties of $223.82 per tonne, while others will face $415 per tonne for five years. The refrigerant gas will carry a duty of up to $5,251 per tonne over the same period, according to a finance ministry notification. In a related move, India has also levied anti-dumping duty on imports of ‘Calcium Carbonate Filler Masterbatch’ from Vietnam, widely used in the plastics industry.
The measures follow investigations by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which found that the imports were being sold at prices significantly below normal market value, causing material injury to Indian producers. DGTR’s recommendations, adopted by the commerce ministry, aim to create a level playing field for domestic industries and ensure fair trading practices, in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
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India has faced rising imports of these products in recent years, often as a spillover from trade tensions and high tariffs elsewhere. For instance, the U.S. and European nations’ imposition of high tariffs on several Chinese goods has led to a diversion of exports to India, increasing the risk of dumping. Electrical steel and R-134a refrigerant gas are key inputs for sectors ranging from automobile manufacturing to refrigeration and air conditioning, while calcium carbonate masterbatch is crucial for the plastics and packaging industry.
In 2024, India’s imports of cold-rolled electrical steel from China rose by over 30 per cent, according to commerce ministry data. Meanwhile, the demand for refrigerant gases like R-134a has been steadily growing, paralleling the expansion of the Indian automotive and air-conditioning sectors. Analysts say anti-dumping duties are likely to protect domestic manufacturers and encourage local production, reducing reliance on imports in strategic industrial segments.
India has previously imposed similar duties on multiple products from China, including aluminium extrusions, steel pipes, and chemicals, to counter unfair pricing practices and safeguard local industries.
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