Anti-dumping duty looks likely on measuring tapes from 4 countries

Government is expected to impose anti-dumping duty of up to $3.27 per Kg on imports of measuring tapes from four countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The move is aimed at protecting the domestic industry from cheap in-bound shipments.

The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) in its investigation report has concluded that "there is dumping" of the product from these countries and the "dumped imports are causing injury to the domestic industry". "The authority recommends imposition of anti-dumping duty on the imports...so as to remove the injury to the domestic industry," the DGAD said in a notification.

DGAD, the nodal agency under the Commerce Ministry for such investigations, has recommended an anti-dumping duty in the range of $1.87 per Kg and $3.27 per Kg on the imports. Imports from these nations - Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have increased considerably from 795 tonnes in 2011-12 to 2,306 tonnes in 2014-15.

While DGAD recommends the duty, the Finance Ministry imposes it. Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports.