Trade Update – March 11, 2024

Key Trade Remedial Updates

Subject Countries	Product	Investigation (AD – Anti-dumping, CVD – Countervailing)	Particulars
United States of America
Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Qatar and Trinidad and Tobago	Melamine	AD	Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations
Germany, India, Qatar, and Trinidad and Tobago	Melamine	AD	Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
People’s Republic of China	Aluminum Extrusions	CVD	Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination with Final Antidumping Duty Determination
India	Stainless Steel Flanges	AD	Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review 2021-2022
India	Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp	AD	Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Partial Rescission; 2022-2023
India	Stainless Steel Bar	AD	Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
People’s Republic of China	Hydrofluorocarbon Blends	AD	Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention with Respect to R-410B from the Republic of Turkey
European Union
People’s Republic of China	Cast Iron Articles	AD	Imposition of definitive Antidumping Duty
India and Turkey	Ceramic Tiles	AD	Amendment of Antidumping Duties for Indian and Turkish Exporters

WTO/FTAs

• Commerce Ministry to brainstorm on WTO strategy post-MC13.
• WTO Goods barometer continues to signal weak upward momentum in trade.
• Trade and gender co-chairs discuss post-MC13 work, launch prize for gender equality in trade
• WTO panel issues report in the case brought by Malaysia in “European Union and certain member states – Certain measures concerning palm oil and oil palm crop-base biofuels”; asking EU to adjust its measures affecting palm oil, palm crop-based biofuels.
• India and EFTA have signed the India-EFTA TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement).
• India seeks greater market access, flexibilities in rules of origin in FTA review with ASEAN.
• FTA talks: India begins hard bargain on non-tariff barriers with EU.
• India-Oman free trade deal likely to be signed soon, say Indian officials.
• India-UK trade pact may be pushed back till after polls in both countries.
• FTA ‘possible’ before India elections, says UK Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch.
• Thailand flags rules of origin amid India-ASEAN FTA review.

Trade Policy

EU

• Dutch call for EU to do more for countries worried about green trade rules.
• EU delays stricter rules on imports from deforested areas.
• Europe to battle with US for aluminium if EU opts for Russian ban.
• The EU Council and Parliament strike a deal to ban products made with forced labour.

UK

• The UK Department of Business and Trade will release its headline summary of market access barriers reported and resolved during Quarter 3 (October to December) of FY24 on 14^th March 2024.

USA

• USTR seeks public comment on Promoting Supply Chain Resilience.
• India-US trade likely to top $200 billion this year: US Ambassador Garcetti.
• US SEC adopts rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures for investors.

India

• India not to tailor policy for Tesla; other global players welcome in India: HCIM Piyush Goyal.
• Green hydrogen push: India eyes $7-15 billion import substitution, plans $4-12 billion investment.
• RBI, Indonesia’s central bank sign agreement for local currency trade.

Indian Customs and Allied Agencies

• A Quality Control Order (QCO) has been notified for electrical appliances for skin or hair care.
• Menthol covered under ITC(HS) codes 29061100, 30039021, 33012590 and 33012400 stands suspended from SION/adhoc norms with immediate effect.
• A QCO has been notified for electrical appliances for commercial dispensing and vending.
• A QCO has been notified for electrical appliances for kitchens.
• A QCO has been notified for electrical appliances for domestic clothes washing.
• A QCO has been notified for fans.
• A QCO has been notified for Asbestos or Fibre Cement based products.
• A QCO has been notified for water meters and accessories.
• A QCO has been notified for gypsum-based building materials.
• A QCO has been notified for air cooler and air filters.
• A QCO has been notified for insulated flasks, bottles, and containers for domestic uses.
• A QCO has been notified for potable water bottles.
• A QCO has been notified for resin treated compressed wood laminates.
• Notification of extension of enforcement date for the QCOs on six kinds of acids.
• Notification of extension of enforcement date for the QCOs on Ethylene Dichloride, Polycarbonate, Vinyl Chloride Monomer, p-Xylene and Polyurethanes.
• Amendment in Import Policy condition for Raw Pet Coke and Calcined Pet Coke under Chapter 27 of Schedule–I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022.
• Enabling provisions are made for exempting inputs imported by Advance Authorisation holders and EOUs, from mandatory Quality Control Orders.
• DGFT has created a new Appendix i.e. Appendix 2Y under FTP, 2023 for notifying the list of Ministries/Departments whose notifications on mandatory QCOs are exempted for goods to be utilized/consumed in manufacture of export products.
• Export of 14,400 MT of onions (under HS code 0703 10 19), with a quantity ceiling of 3600 MT quarterly, to UAE through National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) is notified.
• Export of onions (under HS code 0703 10 19), to Bhutan, Bahrain and Mauritius through NCEL is notified.
• Notification of amendments in the implementation of the yellow peas import monitoring system.
• Extending RoDTEP support for exports made by Advance Authorisation holders, EOUs and SEZs.
• Amendment in import policy condition for duck meat.

National Security, Sanctions and Export Control

• India remains cautious on contracted Russian oil as new US sanctions bite.
• Indian diamond firms tread on rule minefield; face compliance burden under new sanctions regimes in US and EU.
• US Treasury sanctions companies and individuals advancing Russian malign activities in Africa.
• US Treasury sanctions members of the Intellexa Commercial Spyware Consortium.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal opinion or advice. This document is not intended to address the circumstances of any individual or corporate body. Readers should not act on the information provided herein without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances of a situation. There can be no assurance that the judicial/quasi-judicial authorities may not take a position contrary to the views mentioned herein.