India mulls extension of antidumping duties on imported carbon black

New Delhi – The government of India has initiated a ‘sunset review’ investigation into whether antidumping duties should be extended for carbon black products originating in or imported from China and Russia.

The investigations were initiated upon an application by the local Carbon Black Manufacturers Association (CBMA), said a 20 May statement by the commerce ministry's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).

The petition claimed that the domestic carbon black industry was already fragile as production, capacity utilisation rates, sales volumes and inventories had deteriorated in recent months. 

It also alleged that the cessation of antidumping duties would cause material injury to local producers. 

India imposed antidumping duties on carbon black products from China, Australia, Iran, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand in late 2008. 

In a mid-term review in August 2011, duties were extended for products originating in or exported from Australia, China, Russia and Thailand. 

This latest round of review will investigate extending the duties, which are valid until November this year, on the Russian and Chinese imports only.