DGTR recommends imposition of safeguard duty of 10% on single mode optical fibre

25 Aug 2020 Evaluate

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the investigation arm of the commerce ministry, has recommended imposition of safeguard duty of 10 percent on imports of Single Mode Optical fibre used for signal transmission for one year as it has found a significant surge in imports of the product. It had conducted the probe based on complaints filed by Sterlite Technologies and Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics. These firms had sought imposition of safeguard duty on import of single mode optical fibre. They claimed that there has been a sudden, sharp and significant increase in imports in 201819, which has continued to be at high levels even in the most recent period January 2019 to June 2019.

DGTR said that import of these fibres from developing countries listed in an earlier customs notification of 2016, (other than China) will not attract this duty. The duty on imports is proposed to be levied for a period of one year. Single mode optical fibre are imported from various countries including China, Japan, the US and Korea. The major quantity is imported from China. The directorate, in its probe, concluded that the product is being imported into India in such increased quantities that it can cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic manufacturers.

The existing circumstances justify the imposition of the duty in order to protect the domestic players from further serious injury, which may be difficult to repair. The finance ministry is expected to take a final decision on this matter soon. Safeguard duty is a trade remedy available to World Trade Organization member countries. It is imposed to provide a level-playing field to domestic players in case of a sudden and significant increase in imports of a product.

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