Lok Sabha Question No. 2248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-24
Subject: Import Duty on Chinese Imports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2248 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  DECEMBER,2018

## IMPORT DUTY ON CHINESE IMPORTS

## 2248(H). SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to levy higher import duties to check import of Chinese goods;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the  Government  is  aware  that  Indian  economy  is  getting  affected  due  to Chinese goods; and
- (d) if so, the measures being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)  &  (b): Import  duties  are  reviewed  and  changed  by  the  Ministry  of  Finance  only  after extensive consultations with different stakeholders like line ministries, trade and industry, tariff commission etc. This review exercise is generally undertaken as a part of the budget formulation.

(c)  &  (d)  : While  foreign  trade  is  integral  to  our  economy,  provisions  exist  to  protect  the domestic producers and consumers from unfair trade practices by China or any other economy. India  has  an  elaborate  and  robust  legal  framework  and  institutional  set  up  to  protect  its environment, life and health of its people, plants and animals. Adequate provisions exist under the Foreign Trade Policy to protect the Indian consumers and producers as imported goods are subject  to  domestic laws,  rules,  orders,  regulations,  technical  specifications,  environmental and safety  norms.  The  BIS  standards  applicable  to  domestic  goods  are  also  applicable  to  imported goods. Import of food/edible items are subject to FSSAI standards. Import of plant & plant based products  are  subject  to  Plant  Quarantine  measures  and  sanitary  &  phyto-sanitary  measures. Import of animal & animal based products are subject to sanitary import permits.

For imports causing injury to domestic industry, trade defence measures like anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty and safeguard duty area available. Whenever Indian industry is affected by cheaper  imports,  it  can  seek  remedies  from  the  Government  under  the  above  provisions. Directorate  General  of  Trade  Remedies  (DGTR)  conducts  anti-  dumping  investigations  on the basis of duly substantiated petition filed by the domestic industry alleging dumping of goods into the  country  causing  injury  to  the  domestic  industry.  Similarly,  DGTR  conducts  anti-subsidy investigations  against  countries  subsidising  their  export  products.  As  on  18.12.2018,  antidumping duty is in force on 105 products imported from China. Section 8B of the Customs Tariff

Act, 1975, subject to certain conditions, empowers the Central Government to impose Safeguard Duty on any article imported into India in such increased quantities and under such conditions so as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the Indian domestic industry.

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