The government has imposed anti-dumping duty on Chinese R-134a, an inert gas also known as tetrafluoroethane, for a period of five years to protect domestic industry. The decision was taken following an investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) which found that tetrafluoroethane has been exported to India from China at lower prices, resulting in dumping.
According to an official notification, the duty is calculated as the difference between specified reference prices ranging from $4,423 to $4,583 per metric ton for six identified Chinese producers, and $5,251 per metric ton for all others and the actual landed value, applicable only when the landed value is lower.
Crackdown on Chinese R-134a
Tetrafluoroethane is used in automobile air conditioners, home refrigerators, plastic foam blowing as a cleaning solvent and as a propellant for the delivery of pharmaceuticals and air dryers.
“The domestic industry has suffered material injury due to dumping in respect of the subject goods. The landed price of imports is below the level of selling price of the domestic industry and is undercutting the prices of the domestic industry, and has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of the subject goods, originating in or exported from the subject country and imported into India, in order to remove injury to the domestic industry,” the notification reads.
Vietnamese Plastic Fillers Targeted
The government also imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Calcium Carbonate Filler Masterbatch from Vietnam citing material injury to domestic industry. The government took the decision following an investigation by the DGTR, which revealed that Calcium Carbonate Filler Masterbatch has been exported to India at below the normal prices. According to a notification by the Ministry of Finance, an anti-dumping duty ranging from $31.58 per metric ton to $75 per metric ton has been imposed for a period of five years. Calcium Carbonate Filler Masterbatch is a concentrated additive used in plastics manufacturing.