Govt sets up inter-ministerial import surge monitoring group; high tariffs may lead shift China trade to India

16 Apr 2025 Evaluate

The commerce ministry has said that the government set up an inter-ministerial import surge monitoring group as high tariffs on certain countries like China and Vietnam may lead to diversion of goods to India. It also said that Chinese retaliatory tariffs on US goods could further increase the inflow of US agricultural products into India. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce L Satya Srinivas said ‘with the global uncertainties related to tariffs, obviously there are elevated apprehensions related to likely flooding or surge in imports or surge...to look at that...import surge monitoring group has been set up’. If any unusual surge is reported, the commerce ministry can take action such as imposing anti-dumping or safeguard duties.

He said the group is monitoring weekly as well as monthly trends by commodities and by countries. He added ‘If there is any unusual surge, we would like to understand the reasons’. Representatives from the department, DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade), CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs), and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) are in the group. Officials from other ministries are also being consulted when required.

 According to the ministry, a recent assessment highlighted the risk of merchandise dumping into India due to reciprocal tariffs amid global trade tensions. It said ‘Rising US costs may prompt exporters from countries like China, Vietnam and Indonesia, all facing US trade deficits to divert goods to India, potentially triggering import surges’. The US has imposed whopping 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods. In retaliation, China has imposed 125 per cent in American goods, triggering a trade war. 

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