Govt starts probe into dumping of chemical from 3 countries

India has initiated a probe into dumping of a chemical used in several sectors including dyes and pharmaceuticals from three countries including China to protect the domestic industry from cheap imports.
The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has found "sufficient prima facie evidence" of dumping of "Sodium Chlorate" from China, Canada and European Union.
Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd and Teamec Chlorates Ltd have filed an application before the DGAD for initiation of the investigation.
"The authority hereby initiates an investigation into the alleged dumping and consequent injury to the domestic industry...To determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping and to recommend the amount of antidumping duty, which if levied would be adequate to remove the 'injury' to the domestic industry," the DGAD said in a notification.

The period of investigation covers October 2014 to December 2015 (15 months). It would also cover the period of 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Countries start anti-dumping probes to determine whether their domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter measure, they impose duties under the multilateral regime of WTO.

The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
India has already imposed anti-dumping duty on several products to tackle cheap imports from some countries, including China.
According to a WTO report, India, US and Brazil were the leading initiators of anti-dumping investigations in 2015.

It had said that the WTO members initiated 107 new anti-dumping investigations from January to June 2015, just slightly up from 106 in the same period in 2014.