Recently, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) of India has issued a notice to initiate a safeguard investigation on non-alloy and alloy steel flat products imported into India. The case was initiated based on a request from the Indian Steel Association representing many large Indian steel companies such as Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel, AMNS Khopoli, Jindal Steel and Power, Steel Authority of India, etc. Some information about the case is as follows:

I. Relevant information:

1. Initiation date: December 19, 2024

2. Goods under investigation: Non-alloy and alloy steel flat products under HS codes: 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7225, 7226 (HS codes are for reference only, please see detailed product descriptions in the attached notice below). The scope of products under investigation includes hot-rolled steel products, cold-rolled steel products, anti-corrosion metal-coated steel products (including galvanized steel, cold-galvanized steel, zinc-magnesium alloy-coated steel) and color-coated steel.

3. Period of investigation: October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024. DGTR also considered data from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. 

4. Preliminary findings: 

DGTR preliminarily concluded that:

(i) There has been a sharp increase in the import volume of the investigated products, causing serious injury to the domestic industry.

(ii) An emergency situation exists, and failing to impose provisional safeguard measures could result in irreparable harm.

(iii) Immediate implementation of provisional safeguard measures is necessary.

5.  Safeguard measure decision

According to a DGTR document of preliminary findings dated March 18, DGTR proposed a 12% provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on the investigated products. However, this duty will not apply to products with an import price at or above the minimum CIF price specified by DGTR. 

DGTR has also proposed that the duty will not apply to steel products priced above certain thresholds to mitigate injury risks and ensure fair selling prices. These thresholds are set at or above $675/mt CIF for HR coils, sheets and plates; $695/mt CIF for HR plate mill plates; $824/mt for CR coils and sheets; $861/mt for metallic-coated steel coils and sheets; and $964/mt for color-coated coils and sheets.

Vietnam is not exempt from the safeguard measure, as its market share in India’s steel imports exceeds 3%. DGTR has allowed stakeholders to submit comments on the scope of the investigation within 30 days (by April 16, 2025). Before issuing the final determination, DGTR will hold a hearing and may conduct verification if necessary.

II. Case calendar: 

The case documents are attached below: