Overview

• India has imposed a 12% provisional safeguard duty on five categories of flat steel products, including hot rolled coils and sheets, following a DGTR investigation into import surges.
• The duty applies to imports priced below specified thresholds (USD 675–964 per tonne) and exempts shipments from most developing countries, excluding China and Vietnam.
• The measure, effective for 200 days, aims to shield domestic steelmakers, especially smaller producers, from the impact of cheaper imports and global oversupply.
• While major steel producers have welcomed the decision, MSME and export bodies warn of increased input costs potentially harming downstream sectors and export competitiveness.
• The DGTR’s final report is pending, with the safeguard duty positioned as a WTO-compliant trade remedy addressing global tariff shifts and domestic market stability.