NEW DELHI: India is seeking to impose provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of black toner in powder form originating in or exported from China, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei for six months, according to a government order issued on Monday.
The duty on a tonne of black toner would range from US$196 (RM822) for imports from Chinese Taipei, US$1,686 for imports from Malaysia and US$834 for those originating in or exported from China, it said, according to Reuters.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency meanwhile reported that the commerce ministry’s investigation arm DGTR has recommended the imposition of anti-dumping duty on black toner in powder form, used in printers and photocopiers, from China, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei to guard domestic players from cheap imports.
Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended the duty after conducting a probe on alleged dumping of the product by certain companies from these countries, following a complaint by domestic manufacturers.
“Pure Toners and Developers, and Indian Toners and Developers had filed the application for dumping probe,” said PTI.
The duty recommended ranges from US$196 per tonne to US$1,686. The finance ministry will make the final decision on the matter, PTI said.
“The authority recommends imposition of provisional anti-dumping duty equal to the lesser of margin of dumping and the margin of injury, so as to remove the injury to the domestic industry,” the DGTR has said in a notification.
In its probe, the directorate said it has concluded that the product has been exported to India from these nations below its associated normal value, which resulted in dumping and in turn impacting the domestic industry.
According to PTI, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market. Dumping impacts the price of that product in the importing country, hitting margins and profits of manufacturing firms.
According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India.
The imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters. – Aug 11, 2020
