Govt Begins Anti-Dumping Probe Against Imports Of Optical Fibre From China, Indonesia, Korea

Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics has filed an application on behalf of the domestic industry for the initiation of an anti-dumping probe

Single-mode optical fibre is mainly applied to high-data-rate, long distance and access network transportation. Image: Getty

Source : Getty

New Delhi: An anti-dumping investigation has been started by India against imports of a certain type of optical fibre from China, Indonesia, and South Korea following a complaint by a domestic player, the PTI reported on Monday.

The anti-dumping duty is aimed at protecting domestic or local industries from cheap imports.

Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics has filed an application on behalf of the domestic industry for the initiation of an anti-dumping probe.

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), an arm of the commerce ministry, is probing the alleged dumping of 'Dispersion Unshifted Single-mode Optical Fibre' originating in or exported from these three countries.

According to the report, the product is used for making different kinds of cables, including optical fibre, tight buffer cables, armoured, and un-armoured cables.

Single-mode optical fibre is mainly applied to high-data-rate, long distance and access network transportation.

In a notification, the DGTR has said that the applicant has alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry because of the dumped imports from these three countries.

The directorate said, “On the basis of the duly substantiated written application by the domestic industry, and having satisfied itself, on the basis of the prima facie evidence submitted by the domestic industry about the dumping...the authority hereby initiates an investigation".

The DGTR would recommend the imposition of anti-dumping duty on these imports if is established that the dumping has caused material injury to the domestic players. However, the finance ministry takes the final call to impose the duties on these nations.

Anti-dumping inquiries have started by countries to safeguard and determine whether their local industries have been hurt due to rise in cheap imports.

As a countermeasure, the countries impose these duties under the multilateral regime of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO). The duty seeks to ensure fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.

India in the past had already imposed anti-dumping duty for several products to tackle cheap imports from various nations, including China.