Government Acts Against Cheap Imports, Boosts Local Industry

Delhi – In a bid to protect the home‑grown decorative paper industry, the finance ministry has announced that the anti‑dumping duty on imports from China will stay active until 26 March 2027. The extension is designed to reduce the adverse effects of under‑priced imports on local markets and employment.

The original anti‑dumping order, issued in December 2021, imposed a duty ranging from $110 to $542 per tonne for a five‑year term. The expiry was set for 26 December 2026, but the latest circular moves the deadline forward by three months.

The decision, based on a recommendation from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, underscores concerns that cheap Chinese imports depress prices for Indian manufacturers of laminated panels, furniture, cabinets and flooring.

The finance ministry also used the same notice to lengthen anti‑dumping duties on calcined gypsum powder from Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE until 16 March 2027. Moreover, the duty on natural mica‑based pearl industrial pigments from China has been extended to 25 February next year.

Anti‑dumping duties serve as a safeguard when foreign goods are sold at unjustifiably low prices, threatening domestic producers. They are not intended as outright bans but as mechanisms to balance market conditions.

By keeping the duty in place, the government aims to give Indian decorative paper makers a more stable pricing environment and protect jobs across the interior‑decoration supply chain.