Anti-dumping duty likely on plastic-processing machine imports

NEW DELHI: Government is expected to impose anti-dumping duty of up to 44.74 per cent on imports of plastic-processing machines from Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The move is aimed at protecting the domestic industry from cheap in-bound shipments from these countries.

The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties ( DGAD) has concluded that "plastic-processing machines or injection-moulding machines" are entering the Indian market from these countries at throw-away prices.

The performance of the domestic industry has deteriorated due to the impact of dumped imports, according to the findings.

"... the authority (DGAD) considers it necessary and appropriate to recommend imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of (the) goods from these countries," the commerce ministry said in a notification.

DGAD, the nodal agency under the commerce ministry for such investigations, has recommended an anti-dumping duty in the range of 6.06-44.74 per cent.

"Accordingly, anti-dumping duty as a percentage of the landed value of the goods... is recommended to be imposed on all imports of subject goods originating in or exported from the subject countries for five years from the date of notification to be issued in this regard by the central government," it added.

While DGAD recommends the duty, the finance ministry imposes it.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probe to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.

Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.