Overview

• On August 16–17, the DGTR issued final findings replacing the provisional 12% safeguard duty imposed in April and proposed a three-year measure on certain non-alloy and alloy flat steel imports.
• It set duty rates at 12% in the first year, 11.5% in the second and 11% in the third with no duties if import prices meet minimum thresholds such as $675 per tonne for hot-rolled coils.
• The safeguard covers hot-rolled coils and sheets, cold-rolled coils, mill plates, metallic coated steel and colour coated products from top exporters including China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Nepal.
• Major steelmakers and the Indian Steel Association welcomed the plan as a boost to domestic capacity, while over 250 downstream firms and the GTRI cautioned that higher input costs could hurt exports and competition.
• Next steps require formal notification by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs under the finance ministry, paving the way for implementation and potential legal challenges.