Commerce Ministry: Recommendation to impose 12% safeguard duty on steel products for 200 days

The investigative arm of the Ministry of Commerce, DGTR, has recommended that a provisional safeguard duty be imposed at the level of 12 percent for a period of 200 days on certain steel products with the aim of protecting domestic steel producers against increasing imports.

In the last year, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), initiated an investigation against the sudden increase in imports of 'non-alloy and alloy steel flat products' that are being used in various sectors including fabrication, pipe production, building, capital goods, auto, tractor, bicycle, and electrical panels. The investigation had been initiated on the complaint lodged by the Indian Steel Association.

The Directorate has preliminarily, in its investigation, found that in the recent past, the imports of the said goods have increased suddenly, sharply, and considerably, which would cause significant injury to the domestic industry/producers.