Specific Safeguard Duty of 20% Imposed on Stainless Steel HR Flats on Account of “Market Disruption”

[Customs Notification No. 01 (SG) dated 4^th January 2013]

Whereas, in the matter of import of Hot Rolled Flat Products of Stainless Steel-304 grade classified within Chapter 72 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the Customs Tariff Act), the Director General (Safeguard), in its preliminary findings published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 714 (E), dated the 24^th September, 2012  and subsequent Corrigendum vide G.S.R. 825 (E) dated 12^th November, 2012 and Corrigendum-2 vide G.S.R. 841 (E) dated 23^rd November, 2012 had come to the conclusion that increased imports of  Hot Rolled Flat Products of Stainless Steel - 304 grade (upto a maximum width of 1605 mm) and encompassing all austenitic grades having minimum Nickel (Ni) content of 6 per cent., compulsorily containing Chromium with or without the presence of other alloying elements like Molybdenum, Titanium etc., (hereinafter referred to as the subject goods) falling under sub-headings 72191111, 72191112, 72191190, 72191200, 72191300, 72191400, 72192111, 72192112, 72192121, 72192122, 72192131, 72192132,72192141, 72192142, 72192190, 72192211, 72192212, 72192219, 72192291, 72192292, 72192299, 72192310, 72192320, 72192390, 72192411, 72192412, 72192413, 72192419, 72192421, 72192422, 72192423, 72192429, 72192490, 72201110, 72201121, 72201122, 72201129, 72201190, 72201210, 72201221, 72201222, 72201229, 72201290 of the Customs Tariff Act, into India had caused and threatened to cause market disruption to the domestic industry comprising producers of the subject goods thereby necessitating the imposition of provisional safeguard duty on imports of the subject goods from the Peoples Republic of China into India;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 8C of the said Act, read with rules 10 and 14 of the Customs Tariff (Transitional Product Specific Safeguard Duty) Rules, 2002, the Central Government after considering the said findings of the Director General (Safeguard), hereby imposes on Hot Rolled Flat Products of Stainless Steel -304 grade (upto a maximum width of 1605 mm), and encompassing all austenitic grades having minimum Nickel (Ni) content of 6 percent., compulsorily containing Chromium with or without the presence of other alloying elements like Molybdenum, Titanium etc., falling under tariff items 72191111, 72191112, 72191190, 72191200, 72191300, 72191400, 72192111, 72192112, 72192121, 72192122, 72192131, 72192132, 72192141, 72192142, 72192190, 72192211, 72192212, 72192219, 72192291, 72192292, 72192299, 72192310, 72192320, 72192390, 72192411, 72192412, 72192413, 72192419, 72192421, 72192422, 72192423, 72192429, 72192490, 72201110, 72201121, 72201122, 72201129, 72201190, 72201210, 72201221, 72201222, 72201229, 72201290 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, when imported into India, from the People’s Republic of China, a provisional safeguard duty at the rate of 20 percent. ad-valorem.

2. The safeguard duty imposed under this notification shall be effective for a period of 200 days (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.

[F No. 354/158/2012-TRU-Part I]