DGTR Initiates Rounds of Antidumping Probe Against Major Imported Chemicals after Alleged Dumping Indications by Indian Manufacturers

Following rounds of complaints by several domestic manufacturers, the commerce ministry’s investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is evaluating if there is alleged dumping of certain chemicals from the foreign countries, one of them being ‘Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Blends’ which are used in commercial and residential air conditioners. The DGTR has initiated Anti-Dumping probe on HCF Blends imported from China considering the prima facie evidence submitted by SRF Ltd., the leading fluorochemicals and specialty chemicals giant. The directorate is also evaluating alleged dumping of ‘Caprolactam’, a key raw material for nylon yarns from European Union, Korea, Russia and Thailand after Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. (GSFC) filed a detailed application concerning the same. The month of September also ended with start of anti-dumping investigations against imports of ‘Elastomeric Filament Yarn’ from Singapore after a complaint was filed by Indorama lndustries Ltd. If it is found that dumping has caused substantial material injury to the domestic players, the DGTR would recommend imposition of anti-dumping duties on these imported chemicals. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, India has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of several products to strengthen its domestic manufacturing and curtail its import bill with its key focus on reducing dependency on China.