New Delhi, 10 November (H.S.): The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the investigation arm of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has initiated a suo motu anti-dumping investigation into the alleged dumping of aluminium products imported from China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

According to a notification issued by the DGTR on November 9, the investigation aims to protect domestic micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from allegedly unfairly priced imports from these countries.

The notification stated that the DGTR had received representations from the Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI), an industry body representing 228 manufacturers of aluminium extrusion profiles, structures and related articles.

The Directorate said the domestic industry was suffering injury due to a significant increase in imports of the products under consideration at dumped prices.

Ordinarily, the DGTR initiates anti-dumping investigations on the basis of applications filed by domestic manufacturers. However, industries often lack the necessary information, resources and expertise required to pursue trade remedy investigations. In such circumstances, the Directorate can take suo motu cognisance of the matter and initiate an investigation on its own initiative.

The products covered by the investigation are used across a wide range of industrial, transportation, electrical and engineering applications. These include profiles used in windows, doors, curtain walls, partitions, railings and lighting systems, as well as industrial framing, solar mounting structures, ladders, furniture, kitchen and wardrobe fittings, and bicycle components.

The Ministry of Finance takes the final decision on the imposition of anti-dumping duties following the DGTR's recommendations.

India has already imposed anti-dumping duties on several products imported from various countries, including China, as part of its efforts to counter the adverse impact of low-priced imports on domestic industries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar