China calculators:Govt extends time to complete dumping probe

The government has extended the time till April for completing a probe into alleged dumping of electronic calculators by Chinese companies.
"It is informed that the central government has accorded permission for extension of time up to 17th April for completing ... Anti-dumping investigation and notifying the final findings," the Commerce Ministry said.
On October 18 last year, the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), an arm of the Commerce Ministry, had begun investigations into allegations of dumping of electronic calculators by Chinese firms.
Normally, the authority completes an investigation within 150 days of the date of initiation of the probe.

Ajanta Ltd, a leading producer of electronic calculators in the country, had filed the application for the probe on behalf of the domestic industry.
The DGAD had said that the authority has found sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping of calculators from China.

The period of investigation was from April 2012 to March 2013. However, for the purpose of analysing injury, the data of previous three years of 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-12 would also be considered.
After completion of the probe, the DGAD, if needed, would recommend the duty and the Finance Ministry would impose it.
Countries initiate an anti-dumping probe to determine whether their domestic industries have been hurt because of surge in cheap imports of any product. As a counter measure, they impose duties under the multilateral regime of the WTO.

The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters resorting to dumping.
India has initiated as many as 159 anti-dumping investigation cases since 1992 against China, with which it has a huge trade deficit of about USD 37 billion in 2013-14.
The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 65.85 billion in 2013-14.
Major items of Indian exports to China include raw cotton and yarn, iron ore, minerals, plastic, spices, machinery, petroleum. Import products include electric goods, machinery, chemicals, project goods, fertiliser, iron and steel, transport equipment and electric machinery.