Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Anti-Dumping Duty
"A protective tariff imposed on imports sold below their normal value in the exporting country to prevent unfair trade practices"
An anti-dumping duty is a customs duty imposed by an importing country on foreign goods that are being 'dumped' — i.e., exported at a price lower than their normal value (typically the domestic price in the exporting country). The duty aims to protect domestic industries from unfair price competition. In India, anti-dumping investigations are conducted by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Department of Commerce.
Important for GS3 (international trade, industrial policy) and Prelims (WTO rules, DGTR). India is among the world's top users of anti-dumping measures.
- 1 Governed by WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement (Article VI of GATT)
- 2 In India — investigated by DGTR (Directorate General of Trade Remedies, est. 2018)
- 3 DGTR replaced the earlier Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD)
- 4 Duty imposed for 5 years (extendable after sunset review)
- 5 India is one of the highest users globally — over 700 cases since 1995
- 6 Most cases against China, followed by EU, Korea, and Taiwan
- 7 Types of trade remedies — anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty (against subsidies), safeguard duty (against import surge)
- 8 Recent example — anti-dumping duty on ethyl chloroformate from China (March 2026)
India imposed anti-dumping duty on ethyl chloroformate imported from China after DGTR found that Chinese exports were priced below normal value, injuring domestic producers.