India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended a three-year safeguard duty on imports of certain non-alloy and alloy flat steel products to protect domestic producers from a surge in low-priced shipments.
The proposed duty would start at 12pct in the first year, ease to 11.5pct in the second, and drop to 11pct in the third. DGTR said the measure is needed to give Indian steelmakers time to adjust to unexpected global market disruptions driving import pressure.
Products covered under the duty include hot-rolled steel, heavy plates, cold-rolled steel, coated steel, and color-coated steel. However, exemptions apply to specific categories such as electrical steel, electro-galvanized steel, tinplate, stainless steel, and nickel-coated cold-rolled steel.
DGTR also proposed price-based exemptions, allowing imports at or above a set “fair selling price” to bypass the duty. These thresholds include USD 675 per ton CIF for HR coils and sheets, USD 695 per ton for heavy plates, USD 824 per ton for CR coils and sheets, USD 861 per ton for coated coils and sheets, and USD 964 per ton for color-coated steel products.
In its final findings, the regulator concluded that imports had risen suddenly, sharply and significantly, causing and threatening serious injury to domestic producers. The probe followed a complaint by the Indian Steel Association.
The investigation covered October 2023 to September 2024 as the primary review period, with FY 2021-22 through FY 2023-24 included for injury analysis.
A provisional 12pct safeguard duty has already been in place for 200 days since April. The final duty will take effect once formally notified by the commerce ministry.
