India May Imposes Dumping Duty on Phosphoric Acid Imports from Israel , China Taiwan

 
India may impose an anti-dumping duty of up to $194.5 a tonne on phosphoric acid imports from Israel and Taiwan to protect domestic players against damages from cheap rivals.

The chemical is used in beverages and pharmaceutical industry.

The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has recommended imposition of the duty on imports of 'phosphoric acid', the Commerce Ministry said in a notification dated February 2.

The Directorate's recommendation comes on the basis of its findings that increased imports have caused "material injury" to the domestic industry, it said.

Top producer Gujarat Alkalis & Chemicals Ltd, Baroda, had filed a petition for imposing anti-dumping duty on behalf of the domestic industry.

The duty ranged between $116.45 per tonne and $194.5 per tonne, it said.

The DGAD, which is under the Commerce Ministry, in its recommendations said that the chemical has been exported to India below its normal value from the two countries.

The restrictive duty was recommended on all grades of phosphoric acid excluding agriculture/fertiliser grade.

"...the Authority is of the view that imposition of definitive duty is required to offset the dumping and injury in the instant matter," it added.

The chemical is also used in seed processing, sugar juice clarification and sugar refining and food phosphate manufacturing.

Anti-dumping duty is recommended by the Commerce Ministry, while the Finance Ministry imposes the same.

The country has already imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of fabric, yarn, nylon tyre cord and several chemicals.

Unlike safeguard duties, which are levied in a uniform way, anti-dumping duties vary from product to product and from country to country.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.

As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.