The Commerce Ministry has extended till June 20 the time limit for stakeholders to submit their response on the two ongoing probes into alleged dumping of certain steel products by few countries including China.
The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), under the ministry, has started separate anti-dumping investigations regarding dumping of certain hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel products on April 11 and April 19 respectively.
The last dates to file the response were June 6 and June 7 respectively.
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A number of parties have shown interest in these investigations and sent intimation to DGAD to register them as the interested parties, the DGAD said in a memorandum.
It said many parties have requested the authority to grant them additional time to submit their response, citing reasons like large volume of data and language issues.
"Keeping (this) in view , the DGAD extends the time limit for all the interested parties to submit their response up to June 20, with the condition that no further request for extension will be entertained," it added.
The ongoing investigations include dumping of "cold rolled/ cold reduced flat steel products of iron or non-alloy steel, or other alloy steel, of all widths and thickness, not clad, plated or coated" originating in or exported from China, Japan, Korea and Ukraine.
DGAD is the nodal agency for such investigations. It recommends the duty, while the finance ministry imposes it.
The move assumes significance as the sector is facing challenges due to cheap steel imports. The government has already taken steps such as imposing minimum import price and safeguard duty to protect domestic producers.
Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. It is not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.
