THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)
(a) to (g) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 583 FOR ANSWER ON 02.05.2003 REGARDING ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON INDIAN STEEL
(a) and (b): Yes, Sir. The Countries viz. USA, Canada, European Union, South Africa and Thailand have initiated anti-dumping duty investigations against steel /steel products being imported/originated from India. Country-wise details of anti-dumping duties imposed since 1998 are as follows:
Country Items Range of anti-dumping duty
USA 1. Cut-to-length Carbon Steel Plates 1. 72.49% - revised to 42.39% 2. Hot-rolled Steel Flat Products 2. 36.53% to 44.40% 3. Cold Rolled Steel products 3. 153.65%
Canada 1. Stainless Steel Round Bars 1. 18.8% to 52.4% 2. Hot-rolled Carbon Steel Plates 2. Margin of dumping ranges from1.3% to 28.4% 3. Hot-rolled Carbon Steel Sheets 3. Weighted average margin of dumping from 22.4% to 62.9%
European Union 1. Steel Stranded Ropes and Cables 1. 23.8% to 30.8% (Price Undertaking given by Indian exporters) 2. Stainless Steel Fine Wire(with a 2. upto 55.6% diameter of 1mm or more 3. Flat Rolled Products of iron and 3. upto 11.5% (Price Undertaking given by Indian exporters) - non-alloy steel(HRC) Under New Commerce review up to 18.1% 4. Hot Rolled Flat products of Non- 4. 22.3% ( Price undertaking given by Indian exporter ) alloy steel (Quarto Plates)
South Africa 1. Paper Insulated Lead covered 1. 2.14% to 65.47% Electric Cables 2. Galvanized Steel Pipe 2. 34.7%
Thailand 1. Flat Hot Rolled Steel in Coils 1. Provisional duty @ 60.88% and residual duty @ 66.14%.
(c): Trade action by many countries on various steel items exported from India considerably lowered the export of such items to these countries. The levies imposed on Indian steel exports by these countries increased the delivered price of Indian exports to the destination markets and adversely affected the volumes. However, adverse circumstances notwithstanding, the overall Indian steel exports have recovered largely due to the ability of the Indian steel exporters to find out alternate markets and diversify the export basket by shifting to more value added products.
(d) to (g): Under WTO provisions the Anti-dumping investigation is resorted to only when the exports are made at less than the normal value of the products and causes or threatens to cause material injury to an established domestic industry of the importing country. The response to the investigation has to be primarily by the exporters. However, the Government of India have taken up these matters bilaterally and also at the WTO wherever appropriate.
At India`s request a panel was established under the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the WTO for examining India`s claims in the dispute relating to imposition by the US of anti-dumping duty to the extent of 72.49% on imports of cut-to-length steel plates from India. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) requested the US to bring its measure into conformity with the obligations under the WTO. On 7th February 2003, the US has issued the notice of determination under Section 129 of the Uruguay Round Agreement Act purporting to implement the rulings and recommendations of the DSB in this dispute. Under the revised determination the anti-dumping duty has now been reduced to 42.39%.
