India has launched a probe into alleged dumping of electrical steel imports from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, after domestic producers raised concerns that low-priced foreign shipments were affecting their business.
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the commerce ministry, initiated the anti-dumping probe following an application submitted by JSW JFE Electrical Steel Nashik Pvt Ltd.
The company has alleged that imports of Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (CRGO) and Amorphous Metal from the four countries are entering the Indian market at unfairly low prices, causing injury to local manufacturers.
The investigation will assess whether exporters from the concerned countries have supplied the products below their normal value, the extent of such price undercutting and whether it has caused measurable damage to Indian industry.
More from India At Brics meet in Delhi, China calls for cooperation on strategic minerals and AI ‘Pakistan needed America’s blessings’: How Islamabad rebuilt ties with Trump’s White House If the allegations are proven, the DGTR may recommend the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the imports.
However, the final decision on levying such duties will be taken by the finance ministry.
Electrical steel crucial for transformer manufacturing Electrical steel is a specialised material used mainly in the production of transformer cores.
CRGO electrical steel and amorphous metal are key inputs for transformer manufacturers that supply equipment to power utilities, industrial consumers and renewable energy projects.
The domestic industry has argued that a rise in cheaper imports could undermine local production capabilities in a sector considered important for India’s power infrastructure expansion.
India steps up scrutiny of unfair imports The electrical steel investigation is among a series of trade remedy actions initiated by India to examine whether domestic industries are being affected by a surge of low-cost imports.
Anti-dumping measures are permitted under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and are used by countries when imported goods are allegedly sold below fair market value, hurting domestic producers.
Such duties are intended to restore competitive balance rather than restrict legitimate trade.
Quick Reads View All At Brics meet in Delhi, China calls for cooperation on strategic minerals and AI ‘Pakistan needed America’s blessings’: How Islamabad rebuilt ties with Trump’s White House India has previously imposed anti-dumping duties on several products imported from different countries, including China, as part of efforts to protect domestic manufacturers from unfair trade practices.
Besides electrical steel, the DGTR has also begun similar investigations into imports of sodium nitrite from China and Para Nonylphenol from Russia and Taiwan.
The latest move comes as India continues to strengthen domestic manufacturing across strategic sectors, including energy equipment, while using trade defence mechanisms to address concerns raised by local industries.
