Govt may impose 10 pc safeguard duty on aluminum product imports

New Delhi, June 3:India is contemplating 10 per cent safeguard duty on imports of key aluminum products used in the automobile and machinery sector to protect the domestic industry against cheap shipments mainly from China, South Korea, Oman and Iran, an official said.
Endorsing the industry's concern that the surge in aluminum imports is affecting domestic units, the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) has recommended a flat 10 per cent duty on items like aluminum, aluminum waste and scraps.

"On the basis of findings it is seen that increased imports of unwrought aluminum, aluminum waste and aluminum scraps have caused and threatened to cause serious injury to the domestic industry/producers," the DGS has concluded.

These recommendations will now go to an inter-ministerial standing board, chaired by Commerce Secretary G K Pillai.

The duty recommended is for 200 days. However, the standing board had last month sent back the investigation report by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties for imposition of anti-dumping duty on steel products. PTI