India has implemented a temporary safeguard duty of 12% on certain types of imported steel to protect domestic producers from low-priced imports and to support fair competition in the market. The decision was officially announced by the country’s Ministry of Finance and will take effect on April 21, 2025, lasting for 200 days unless revoked or amended earlier.
This is reported by Business • Media
The announcement states that the duty applies to products with HS codes 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225, and 7226. According to the recommendations of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), it will only be applied when the import price of the product is below the established threshold. For example, for hot-rolled steel (HRC), the safeguard duty will not apply if the import price is $675 per ton CIF or higher.
Context of Implementing Safeguard Measures
In March 2025, the DGTR recommended applying a 12% tariff on certain types of steel for 200 days as part of measures to curb cheap imports. This has become part of the government’s efforts to limit imports of flat products made from non-alloyed and alloyed steel, which are widely used in various industries. Preliminary data indicates that in the fiscal year 2024/2025 (which ended in March 2025), India became a net importer of flat products again, with volumes reaching a nine-year high of 9.5 million tons (+14.8% compared to the previous year). At the same time, exports amounted to 4.86 million tons, which is a 35.1% decrease year-on-year.
Earlier, in December 2024, the government imposed temporary restrictions on the import of low-ash metallurgical coke, which will be in effect for six months starting January 1, 2025.