India levies anti-dumping duty on soda ash imports

06 Jul '12

2 min read

India’s Ministry of Finance has announced the imposition of anti-dumping duty on import of soda ash from seven countries, viz. Iran, Pakistan, China, Ukraine, Kenya, European Union and the US.

The Department of Revenue said the duty would range from US$ 2.38 per ton to US$ 38.79 per ton, depending on the manufacturer and the country of exports.

The anti-dumping duty on soda ash, which is widely used in textiles, would last for five years, the Revenue Department said.

The Ministry imposed the anti-dumping duty based on the recommendation made in February this year by the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD).

In its probe, DGAD found that increased amounts of soda ash imports have caused “material injury” to the local industry, 90 percent of which is situated in the western state of Gujarat.

The DGAD probe found that soda ash is being imported into India at prices below its normal value from Pakistan, China, Iran, Kenya, Ukraine, EU and the US.

The probe was conducted by DGAD, based on a petition filed by the Alkali Manufacturers' Association of India on behalf of local industries – Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, Nirma, DCW Ltd. and Saurashtra Chemicals.

Under the multilateral WTO regime, countries can instigate a probe to check whether its local industry is being hurt due to low-cost imports, and if found affirmative it can impose anti-dumping duties, as a counter measure to save their domestic industries.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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