Lok Sabha Question No. 958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Import of Welding Equipment
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  FEBRUARY,2023

## IMPORT OF WELDING EQUIPMENT

## 958. DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of India's strong dependence on imports for welding equipment, which is impacting domestic ecosystem and allied industries and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  reduce  imports  of  welding equipment to support domestic manufactures and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is intending to increase import duty on import of welding equipment and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) to (c): Data in respect of India's  imports of welding equipment and India's total imports for the last three years is as under:

Value in US$ million

| Description/Year                      |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |
|---------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Imports of Welding Equipment by India |    484.12 |    379.84 |    457.65 |

Source: DGCI&S

The imports of welding equipment by India has decreased by 5.47 % from US$ 484.12 million in 2019-20 to US$ 457.65 million in 2021-22.

Imports take place to meet the gap between domestic production and supply, consumer demand and preferences  for  various  products.  Many  imports  are  inputs  for  further  manufacturing  in  India  and exports from India. Based on the suggestions from the stakeholders, several measures are taken by Government of India, from time to time to facilitate and provide an enabling environment for reducing imports, which include creating/ enhancing domestic capacity, incentivizing domestic manufacturing through Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, phased manufacturing plans, timely use of trade remedial options, adoption of mandatory technical standards, enforcement of FTA Rules of Origin (RoO). Besides, an 'Import Monitoring Cell' of the Department of Commerce regularly monitors the import  surges  on  monthly  basis  and  sensitizes  the  concerned  Ministries  for  remedial  action.  The Directorate  General  of  Trade  Remedies  (DGTR)  of  Department  of  Commerce  recommends restrictions on import of a product by imposition of additional duty or quantitative restrictions (QRs) if Indian industry is 'seriously injured' or 'threatened with injury' on account of surge in imports or unfair trade practices.

Based on an application received from the domestic industry, the DGTR, through notification no. 6/7/2022-DGTR  dated  29th September,  2022, have  initiated  an  anti-dumping  investigation  with reference to imports of 'Industrial Laser Machines, used for cutting, marking, or welding operations including  Laser  Cutting  Machines  (LCM),  Laser  Marking  Machines  (LMM)  and  Laser  Welding Machines (LWM)" from China PR, and the same is in progress.

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