New Delhi: India has initiated a probe to review the need for extending the countervailing duties levied on aluminium wires imported from Malaysia, following a complaint by certain domestic players, according to a notification.
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The centre imposed these duties on September 24, 2021, for five years, as subsidised exports of 'aluminium wire in coil form or wire rod in coil form' by Malaysian firms were impacting domestic players. The existing levy period will end on September 23, 2026.
Hindalco Industries, Vedanta Ltd, and Bharat Aluminium Company have filed an application before the Commerce Ministry's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) for the probe, stating that cessation of the existing duties would impact domestic manufacturers.
The applicants have alleged that the exporters of Malaysia continue to benefit from countervailable subsidies provided at various levels by the Malaysian government, the DGTR has said in a notification.
They have claimed that there is a likelihood of continuation/recurrence of subsidisation and consequent injury to the domestic industry in the event of cessation of the existing anti-subsidy duty.
"On the basis of the duly substantiated application by or on behalf of the domestic industry, and having satisfied itself, on the basis of the prima facie evidence submitted by the applicants, substantiating likelihood of continuation or recurrence of subsıdization and injury to the domestic industry in the event of expiry of the countervailing duties, the authority hereby initiates a sunset review investigation," it said.
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In the probe, the directorate would review the need for continued imposition of countervailing duty on the imports and also examine whether the expiry of the existing countervailing duty is likely to lead to continuation of the subsidy and impact on the industry, it added.
If found that the removal of the duty would impact Indian firms, the directorate would recommend the continuation of the duty to protect the domestic industry.
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