India imposes anti-dumping duties on five Chinese imports

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on five products imported from China. This decision aims to protect local industries from the negative effects of cheaper goods coming into the country. The products affected include aluminium foil, soft ferrite cores, vacuum insulated flasks, trichloro isocyanuric acid, and poly vinyl chloride paste resin. The new duties vary by product. For aluminium foil, a provisional duty of up to USD 873 per tonne has been set for six months. Trichloro isocyanuric acid, used for water treatment, will face duties ranging from USD 276 to USD 986 per tonne. Soft ferrite cores, which are important for electric vehicles and electronics, will receive a duty of up to 35 percent on their cost. Additionally, a duty of USD 1,732 per tonne will be imposed on vacuum insulated flasks. Poly vinyl chloride paste resin imports from several countries, including China, will incur duties between USD 89 and USD 707 per tonne. Anti-dumping duties are measures taken by countries to evaluate whether their local industries are harmed by low-priced imports. The Indian Ministry of Commerce's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended these actions after an investigation. During such probes, authorities check how cheap imports impact domestic markets. The World Trade Organization (WTO) allows countries to impose anti-dumping duties under specific conditions. This regulation helps maintain fair trading practices and protects local producers from unfair competition. These measures usually involve charging extra duties on imports to balance prices and alleviate harm to local industries. China is India’s second largest trading partner. India has expressed concerns over its growing trade deficit with China, which was reported to be USD 85 billion for the year 2023-24.