In only the second case of anti-dumping duty involving over the counter (OTC) drugs, India has imposed a duty of $3.33 per kg of paracetamol imported from China and Taiwan.
Prior to the imposition of anti-dumping duty on paracetamol, India had imposed duties on 16 pharmaceutical products with analgin as the sole OTC drug to come under the purview of such a duty.
In the final findings notified last week, the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Activities (DGAD) said imports of paracetamol from China and Taiwan have increased from 6.56 lakh kg in 1997-98 to 8.76 lakh kg in 1999-2000. Also, increase in import of paracetamol from the two countries was significantly higher than the overall import of the drug.
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The notifications further said exporters have consistently reduced their prices in 1999-2000, the period of investigations, forcing domestic producers to slash prices.
The DGAD concluded that the marketshare of the four petitioners had decreased during the period of investigation.