Imported Chinese sewing needles to be costlier

In order to safeguard the domestic players against invasion of sub-standard Chinese goods, India has subjected import of sewing machine needles from China to an anti-dumping duty of Rs. 155,362 per 0.1 million units.

The Department of Revenue has stated that the tax levy would remain in effect for five years from the date of imposition, unless it is superseded, withdrawn or amended prior to that period.

The duty has been imposed based on the recommendation of the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), a nodal agency under the Union Ministry of Commerce. In its in-depth study, the DGAD figured out that import of cheap goods from China has badly hit the domestic industry.

Such duty already exists on imports of nylon tyre, fabric, yarn and a number of chemicals. While the duty has been recommended by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance would be actually executing the imposition of the duty.

Unlike other protective duties that are levied at uniform rates, the imposition of anti-dumping duty differs from country to country and from product to product.

Anti-dumping probes are carried out by governments to find out whether there is any adverse impact of the rise in low-cost imports on the domestic industry. As a protective measure, duties are levied in accordance with the World Trade Organization rules, to safeguard the domestic industry.