Response to trade war takes centre stage as govt mulls fresh import curbs

Items being considered include metals, minerals and more electronic finished goods

The government is mulling a second set of duty hikes to reduce the risk of dumping from China and curb the widening trade deficit. Business Standard has learnt from multiple sources across central ministries that metals and minerals are being considered now. These will include certain grades of iron ore, copper ore, aluminum scrap and zinc. Some other items including finished electronic, especially those for which China is a major manufacturer, are also being considered.

Government officials said only certain qualities of these metals could be subject to tariff hikes. “Take, for example, iron ore. For higher grades of iron