Govt likely to impose anti-dumping duty on certain flat steel products

The government is likely to impose anti-dumping duty on imports of certain flat steel products from countries including China and European Union, in a move to protect the domestic industry from cheap in-bound shipments.

The directorate general of antidumping and allied duties (DGAD) in its preliminary findings has recommended duty on imports of “colour coated / pre-painted flat products of alloy or non-alloy steel”. These steel products offers resistance to corrosion with barrier protection and it is used in many applications and sectors including construction, roofing, walling, paneling, cladding and decking, automotive, white goods, appliances and furniture.

The investigation was initiated on joint application for initiation of anti-dumping investigations by Essar Steel India and JSW Steel Coated Products. DGAD in its findings has also suggested that the duty should be the difference between the landed value of steel products and $849 per tonne. In its findings, DGAD has concluded that the product has been exported to India at below the normal value due to which the domestic industry has suffered material injury.

Imports of these steel products have drastically increased to 213,311 tonnes during the period of investigation (July- December 2015) from 60,771 tonnes in 2012-13. Government has already slapped anti-dumping duty on certain cold-rolled flat steel products from four nations, including China and South Korea.