WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/N/16/IND/3/Suppl.4 
21 May 2010 
 (10-2847) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   English 
 
 
NOTIFICATION RELATING TO THE TRANSITIONAL PRODUCT-SPECIFIC 
SAFEGUARD MEASURE PURSUANT TO SECTION 16 OF PART I  
OF THE PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION OF  
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
 
INDIA 
 
(Soda Ash ) 
 
Supplement  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 12 May 2010, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of India.    
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 1. Provide evidence of serious injury or  threat thereof caused by increased imports 
 
 The increase in imports from China started in  the month of December 2008.  The pace of 
increase in imports slowed down on account of saf eguard duty.  However, the quarterly imports 
remained above the quarterly imports in previous y ear even after imposition of safeguard duty.  Share 
of imports of China remained much above the shar e in past three years.  Capacity utilization, 
production and profitability have not reached thei r level in the corresponding period in 2008 due to 
continued imports of the product at lower prices from China.  
2. Provide information on whether there is an  absolute increase in imports or an increase 
in imports relative to domestic production 
 
Imports in absolute terms
 
  The table below gives the Quarterly im port figures relating to Soda Ash.  
 
Table 1
 
 
  Soda Ash Imports from China - Quantity (In MT) 
  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
Q1 17,836 2,256 10,046 110,329 
Q2 19,112 6,362 10,716 53,686 
Q3 7,929 21,268 20,261 48,560 
Q4 16 7,804 67,624 - 
 G/SG/N/16/IND/3/Suppl.4 
Page 2  
 
  Table 2
 
 
Soda Ash Imports from other than China - Quantity (In MT) 
 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
Q1 58,923 49,666 50,333 41,195 
Q2 62,139 63,236 55,566 83,735  
Q3 56,241 113,356 42,825 91,070  
Q4 35,326 90,233 33,778 - 
 
Table 3  
 
Total Soda Ash Imports into India - Quantity (In MT) 
 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
Q1 30,166 76,759 51,922 60,379 151,523 
Q2 44,637 81,251 69,598 66,282 137,421 
Q3 38,733 64,170 134,623 63,086 139,630 
Q4 38,280 35,342 98,037 101,402 - 
 
 The increase in imports from China started in  the month of December 2008.  The pace of 
increase in imports slowed down on account of saf eguard duty.  However, the quarterly imports 
remained above the quarterly imports in previous years even after imposition of safeguard duty.  The 
imports from China in year 2009 is 280,199 MT against 48,827 MT in 2008.  Relative share of imports
:   
  The share of imports in the total mark et size of India has been as follows: 
 
Table 4
 
 
Year Market Share  (%) 
  China Domestic 
Producers Others 
2005-06 Q1 0.01 94.19 5.81 
 Q2 0.91 91.91 7.18 
 Q3 0 92.68 7.32 
 Q4 0.72 93.11 6.17 
2006-07 Q1 3.07 86.80 10.14 
 Q2 3.63 84.58 11.79 
 Q3 1.46 88.16 10.38 
 Q4 0.00 93.76 6.24 
2007-08 Q1 0.42 90.30 9.28 
 Q2 1.34 85.35 13.31 
 Q3 3.36 78.75 17.89 
 Q4 1.27 84.01 14.72  G/SG/N/16/IND/3/Suppl.4 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Year Market Share  (%) 
2008-09 Q1 1.82 89.07 9.11 
 Q2 2.00 87.61 10.39 
 Q3 4.05 87.38 8.57 
 Q4 11.62 82.57 5.80 
2009-10 Q1 17.74 75.63 6.62 
 Q2 9.68 75.23 15.09 
 Q3 7.97 77.16 14.87 
 
 The market share of imports from China increas ed until Q1 of 2009-10 but it started declining 
on account of safeguard duty from Q2 of 2009-10.  However, share of imports of China remained much above the share in past three years.  
 
3. Provide precise description of the product involved 
 
 Soda Ash covered under HS Code-283620. 
 4. Provide precise description of the proposed measure  
 The DG, Safeguards recommended imposition of safeguard duty as mentioned below which is 
considered to be the minimum required to protect  the domestic industry from market disruption, on 
imports of Soda Ash when imported into India from the People's Republic of China: 
 
Sl. No Period Duty 
1 20.04.2010 to 19.04.2011 16% 
2 20.04.2011 to 19.04.2012 14% 
 
5. Provide proposed date of introduction of the measure 
 
 The safeguard duty was in force with eff ect from 20 April 2009 up to and inclusive of 
19 April 2010.  The recommendations of the DG, Sa feguards to extend the safeguard duty are yet to 
be considered by the Standing Board on safeguards.   
6. Provide expected duration of the measure 
 
 As in 4 above. 
 
7.  For a measure with a duration of more three years, provide the proposed date for the 
review (under Article 7.4) to be held not later than the mid-term of the measure, if such 
a date for the review has already been scheduled 
 
 Not applicable. 
 
8.  If the expected duration is over one ye ar, provide expected timetable for progressive 
liberalization of the measure 
 
 As in 4 above. 
 G/SG/N/16/IND/3/Suppl.4 
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  9.  If the measure is being extended, also provide 
 
 Not applicable. 
 
10.   Any other information  
  The findings on the review investigation we re published in the Gazette of India on 
13 April 2010.  
 
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