Policy Watch: India imposes anti-dumping duty on Chinese steel wheels
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It’s been an extraordinary week for India-Canada diplomatic relations. Canadian media reports that intelligence is available linking India to the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Senior Indian journalist Shekhar Gupta says the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is talking about Canada “as if it is the new Pakistan.” We hope that calm and responsible diplomacy prevails, and that the significant number of Indians studying and working in Canada, as well as vice versa are not adversely impacted in their daily lives.
It’s in that context, our Policy Watch this week looks at an increasinly assertive India on the global stage, with significant tariffs being imposed on Chinese steel products.
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Aman Dhillon and her team at film curation and representation company ReelN have organised the upcoming UK Tour of award-winning filmmaker Prataya Saha, who is travelling from India with his three short films, Just Another Day, I Am Mehmood, and The Golden Cage. The events are supported by the London Bengali Film Festival. Screenings are Q&A with Prataya are 4-13 October in Manchester, Bradford, Birmingham and London. Scroll down for more info.
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Policy Watch: India imposes anti-dumping duty on Chinese steel wheels in bid to counter predatory pricing
In an effort to address concerns surrounding predatory pricing practices and their detrimental impact on the Indian steel industry, the Indian government has implemented a five-year anti-dumping duty on steel wheels used in tires imported from China. This strategic move aims to safeguard domestic steel manufacturing from the adverse effects of inexpensive imports.
The decision to impose anti-dumping duties comes as Indian authorities have observed a substantial increase in imports of steel products from China in recent years. According to official statistics, imports of steel from China surged by a staggering 62% in the past year alone, raising concerns among Indian steel manufacturers and policymakers about the impact on the domestic industry.
The anti-dumping duty, effective immediately, follows a comprehensive investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an agency responsible for examining trade disputes and unfair practices. The DGTR found that Chinese steel wheels were being exported to India at prices significantly lower than their normal value, causing material injury to the domestic industry.
The duty imposed ranges from 13.33% to 17.58% on various categories of Chinese steel wheels, aiming to create a level playing field for Indian manufacturers and prevent further damage to the domestic steel sector.
The decision is expected to have a profound impact on the Indian steel industry, which has been struggling with the surge in imports. India's steel production capacity stands at over 140 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA), with the domestic industry supporting several million jobs. However, the recent influx of cheaper Chinese steel products had begun to undermine the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers.
Chinese steel imports have flooded the Indian market due to their lower prices, which is attributed to subsidies and overcapacity in China's steel industry. The Indian Steel Association (ISA) welcomed the imposition of anti-dumping duties as a necessary measure to protect the domestic industry from unfair competition.
China is not the only country facing such trade actions from India. Several other nations, including Japan and South Korea, have also faced anti-dumping duties on steel imports, showcasing India's resolve to protect its industry from unfair trade practices.
The move is not without its critics, as some argue it could lead to retaliatory measures from China and strain trade relations between the two countries. However, Indian officials maintain that these duties are a legitimate response to protect domestic interests in line with global trade regulations.
The decision to levy anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel wheels used in tire manufacturing underscores the Indian government's dedication to strengthening the domestic steel sector and addressing predatory pricing tactics. The action may offer substantial relief to Indian steel manufacturers and foster the industry's sustainable growth in the years ahead.
Upcoming events:
UK tour of Prataya Saha short films (4 Oct [Manchester], 6 October [Bradford], 10 October [Birmingham], 13 October [London] | Book here)
Award-winning filmmaker Prataya Saha is touring the UK with his critically acclaimed short films, Just Another Day (2021), I am Mehmood (2022) and the recent worldwide film festival entry The Golden Cage (2023). Join ReelN to celebrate independent filmmaking with a rare opportunity to watch these unique films together, and discuss the important themes and questions they raise with filmmaker Prataya Saha.
Book launch of The Concert for Bangladesh: United friends of Bangladesh (5pm, 18 October, SOAS | Book here)
This book predominantly discuses not only the history of Bangladesh but also from a global perspective as to how the chain of events leading up to the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war impacted geopolitically. It was a great pleasure for both of us to have collaborated and worked jointly on this huge and vast piece of current history. The idea first to write about this book came about a few years ago when both of us were reading the pieces of the 1971 liberation war and in that context we came about some original pieces of advertisement and the LP vinyl disc records of the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh.
Its authors are Abu Sayed, an imminent journalist from Bangladesh who works with special focus on the 1971 war of liberation, and geopolitical analyst Priyajit Debsarkar.
Ramayana: A puppet show (6pm, Fri 10 Nov | Central London | Book here)
The Ramayana Puppet Show is StoryHour UK flagship performance. A timeless piece of culture and art, this story narrates the epic tale behind the festival of Diwali, using uniquely hand-crafted puppets. Having been performed across many different audiences, this puppet show has been celebrated for capturing the essence of a classic. The show has been screened at various Indian embassies across Europe and schools in London while also being readily available in 6 languages here. It has been applauded by Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, author Amish Tripathi and others.
Alongside a screening of the puppet show, there will be live puppeteers demonstrating scenes from the Ramayana, with an installation of the six puppets, followed by a talk and Q&A with producer Neelima Penumarthy.
When: 5 – 6:30pm, Wed 19 July
Where: Central London
Book: Bridge India Members: £10 | Others: £20 bookable here | Drinks and snacks provided
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