The government has initiated a probe to impose anti-dumping duty on imports of phenol, used in the making of plywood and particle boards, to protect the domestic industry from cheap shipments from Japan and Thailand.
Acting on an application of domestic producers on the alleged dumping of the chemical from Japan and Thailand, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has initiated anti-dumping probe.
"After finding evidences of dumping of the goods from the two countries, the DGAD has initiated investigation," an official said.
India has already slapped anti-dumping duty on several items such as yarn, fabrics, some of the stainless steel products and chemicals imported from China.
A recent WTO report said that India was the second only to Argentina among the G-20 nations in initiating anti-dumping investigations during January-July 2009.
India had started 15 anti-dumping investigations in the first seven months of 2009, while Argentina accounted for 19.
Unlike safeguard duty, which is levied in a uniform way, anti-dumping duty varies from product to product and country to country. Both duties are allowed under the multilateral trade rules after investigations to stand the WTO scrutiny.
