India tightens trade defences with anti-dumping duties on six chinese imports
In a bid to safeguard domestic industries from the adverse impact of cheap imports, India has imposed anti-dumping duties on six products originating from China so far this month. The move aims to curb unfair pricing practices and support local manufacturers facing price pressure from imports.
According to separate notifications from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the duties will remain in effect for five years and cover a range of industrial inputs including PEDA (a herbicide component), Acetonitrile (used in pharmaceuticals), Vitamin-A Palmitate, Insoluble Sulphur (critical for tyre manufacturing), decor paper, and Potassium Tertiary Butoxide.
The decision follows recommendations from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the investigative arm of the commerce ministry responsible for assessing injury to domestic industries from dumped imports.
Similarly, Insoluble Sulphur from China and Japan will see duties of up to USD 358 per tonne, while Potassium Tertiary Butoxide imported from China and the US will attract levies reaching USD 1,710 per tonne. Decor paper shipments from China have been subjected to duties of up to USD 542 per tonne.
Anti-dumping measures are widely used under the global trade framework governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), of which both India and China are members. These actions help prevent injury to local industries caused by imports sold at unfairly low prices.
The latest wave of duties comes amid a broader effort by India to bolster domestic manufacturing and address the ballooning trade imbalance with China. In 2024-25, India’s trade deficit with its largest trading partner widened to USD 99.2 billion. While exports to China fell by 14.5% to USD 14.25 billion, imports surged by over 11% to USD 113.45 billion.
These defensive trade moves are expected to not only create a fairer market environment for Indian producers but also align with the government’s ongoing emphasis on reducing dependency on Chinese imports and promoting self-reliance in key manufacturing sectors.
