All India Stainless Steel Industries Association, the apex body of stainless steel utensils and cutlery manufacturers, has opposed the probe and possible levy of anti-dumping duty on stainless steel imports which it said would affect the industry adversely.

The association said today in a press note that it has written a letter to Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties, Ministry of Commerce  against initiating of probe and levy of any anti-dumping duty on stainless steel imports.

"Currently more than 5,000 small scale manufacturing units of stainless steel utensils, cutlery, knives and other household products employing more than three lakh workers are dependent on imported stainless steel for their exports. These units presently import products worth Rs 1800 crore," Badri Baldawa, President of the association said.

According to Bldawa, the domestic producer of stainless steel (a Jindal company) on who's request the Ministry of Commerce has initiated anti-dumping probe does not make steel in the required specifications for certain products which necessitates manufactuers to import stainless steel.

The industry has to depend on imports to meet the needs of international buyers, he added.

"Industry has urged the ministry to immediately call off the anti-dumping probe on stainless steel products and not to impose any duty on high grade stainless steel which is currently not being manufactured in the country," he said.