Safeguard Duty of 10%, 8%, 6% over Three Years on Wide HR Carbon and Alloy Steel Sheets and Plates

· High Price >$504/MT Not Covered

· MIP to Expire on 4 Dec, Safeguard Measure Substitutes

[Safeguard Notification No. 03 dated 23^rd November 2016]

Whereas, in the matter of import of "Hot Rolled flat sheets and plates (excluding hot rolled flat products in coil form) of alloy or non-alloy steel having nominal thickness less than or equal to 150mm and nominal width of greater than or equal to 600mm” (hereinafter referred to as the subject goods), falling under heading 7208or tariff items 7225 40 13, 7225 40 19, 7225 40 20, 7225 40 30 and 7225 99 00 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 his final findings, published vide number G.S.R. 759(E), dated the 2nd August, 2016 in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated the 2nd August, 2016 had come to the conclusion that increased imports of subject goods into India has caused and threatened to cause serious injury to the domestic producers of subject goods, thereby necessitating the imposition of safeguard duty on imports of the subject goods into India;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act, read with rules 12, 14 and 17 of the Customs Tariff (Identification and Assessment of Safeguard Duty) Rules, 1997, the Central Government, after considering the said findings of the Director General (Safeguards), hereby imposes on subject goods falling under heading 7208 or tariff items 7225 40 13, 7225 40 19, 7225 40 20, 7225 40 30 and 7225 99 00 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, when imported into India, a safeguard duty at the following rate, namely:-

(a) ten per cent ad valorem minus anti-dumping duty payable, if any, when imported during the period from 23rd November, 2016 to 22nd November, 2017 (both days inclusive) at an import price below US Dollar 504 per MT on CIF basis;

(b) eight per cent ad valorem minus anti-dumping duty payable, if any, when imported during the period from 23rd November, 2017 to 22nd November, 2018 (both days inclusive) at an import price below US Dollar 504 per MT on CIF basis; and

(c) six per cent ad valorem minus anti-dumping duty payable, if any, when imported during the period from 23rd November, 2018 to 22nd May, 2019 (both days inclusive) at an import price below US Dollar 504 per MT on CIF basis.

2. Nothing contained in this notification shall apply to imports of subject goods from countries notified as developing countries under clause (a) of sub-section (6) of section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act, except People’s Republic of China, Ukraine and Indonesia.

Explanation 1. The following are not included in the scope of subject goods:

a) Hot rolled flat products of stainless steel;

b) API grade steel conforming to X-52 and higher API grades for manufacturing pipes used for pipeline transportation systems in the petroleum and natural gas industries;

c) Hot rolled plates for manufacturing boilers and pressure vessels confirming to IS 2002 and IS 2041 or its equivalent specifications SA515, SA516, SA537, SA285, SA299 ;

d) The grades JIS Standard G3106:2008, SM 400C, SM 490C, SM 570, JIS G3101: 2015, SS400, SS 490, the Specific alloy steel grades SA203, SA302, SA533, SA537, SA542,15Mo3, 20MnMoni55, 9Cr1Mo and atmospheric corrosion resisting steels grades JIS G312522, CORTEN23, ASTM A 24224, ASTM A 58825 and ASTM A 60626;

e) Steel plates that satisfy reduction ratio of 1:3 and are above 85mm in thickness;

f) Special grade material of steel C 45, P 20, 4140 grade;

g) Silicon electrical steel;

h) Cladded steel;

i) Quenched and tempered steel;

Explanation 2. For the purpose of this notification “import price on CIF basis” means the assessable value as determined under section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).”.

[F.No.354/158/2016-TRU]