India Probes Dumping of Untreated Fumed Silica from China, South Korea

India has initiated a probe into the alleged dumping of untreated fumed silica, used in pharmaceutical and agrochemicals industries, from China and South Korea following a complaint by a domestic manufacturer.

Cabot Sanmar Ltd filed the application before the commerce ministry’s investigation arm DGTR, seeking initiation of an anti-dumping probe concerning imports of ‘Untreated Fumed Silica’ from these two counties.

The company has alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to dumped imports from China and Korea and has requested for the imposition of anti-dumping duty on the im-ports, according to the notification of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).

On the basis of prima facie evidence submitted by the industry, “the authority, hereby, initiates an investigation”, DGTR said.

In the probe, the directorate will determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping in respect of the product from China.

If DGTR will find that there is dumping and it is impacting the domestic manufacturer, it will recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty, which if levied would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

While the DGTR recommends the duty, the finance ministry imposes the same.

The period of investigation is April 2019-March 2020. It would also look into the data for the 2016-19 period.