India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese Linen Fabric

The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India has imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of flax or linen fabric having flax content of more than 50 per cent, originating in or exported from China and Hong Kong.

Through its Notification no. 39/2015-Customs (ADD), issued this month, the ministry imposes anti-dumping duty of $0.75 per metre of flax or linen fabric having flax content of more than 50 per cent, for goods originating in and exported from China, exclusive of Hong Kong.

For fabric originating in or exported from Hong Kong, this duty would be applicable at $0.63 per metre, the notification said.

This duty would be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from August 12, 2015.

Anti-dumping duty on flax or linen fabric having flax content of more than 50 per cent was first imposed in December 2009. Subsequently, a review was carried out as a subsidiary company of Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited filed a petition seeking continuation of the duty on such fabric imports from China and Hong Kong.

In its review, the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties through its notification dated 9 June, 2015, concluded that flax or linen fabrics with more than 50 per cent flax content are (i) exported from China and Hong Kong below their normal value, thus resulting in dumping; (ii) dumping margin and injury margin are positive in respect of these imports; (iii) these are likely to cause injury to the domestic industry in the event of cessation of anti dumping duty, and recommended imposition of the anti-dumping duty.