DGTR
Recommends US$86 per MT of Anti-Dumping Duty on Copper Data Cables from China
on Birla Cable Ltd. (BCL) and Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL Complaint
[DGTR Final
Findings Case No. AD (OI) – 39/2025 dated 16.09.2026]
1.
Investigation
o
DGTR has issued its Final Findings in the
anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Copper Data Cables
originating in or exported from China PR.
o
Investigation was initiated on the application of Birla
Cable Ltd. (BCL) and Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL).
2.
Product Under Consideration (PUC)
o
Covers all structured Copper Data Cables,
including:
§ CAT 5e
§ CAT 6
§ CAT 6A
§ CAT 7
§ CAT 7A
§ Patch
cords.
o
Includes shielded and unshielded cables consisting
of twisted-pair copper conductors, used for LAN/data transmission,
telecommunications, networking and audio-video transmission.
3.
HS Classification
o
PUC is classified under HS Code 854449,
Chapter 85.
o
Customs classification is indicative only and
not binding on the scope of the PUC.
4.
Domestic Industry
o
BCL and STL together account for about 80% of
eligible domestic production.
o
DGTR held that they constitute the domestic
industry under Rule 2(b) and satisfy the standing requirement under Rule
5(3) of the Anti-Dumping Rules, 1995.
o
STL's very small imports of patch cords from China
were considered insignificant and did not affect its status as a domestic
producer.
5.
DGTR's Findings on Injury
o
DGTR concluded that the domestic industry suffered material
injury during the Period of Investigation.
o
Key factors identified:
§ Volume of
dumped imports increased in absolute and relative terms.
§ Significant
domestic production capacity remained idle despite increased capacity and
demand.
§ Landed
prices of subject imports were below the domestic industry's selling prices,
resulting in significant price undercutting.
§ Imports
were found to be suppressing domestic prices.
6.
Dumping & Causal Link
o
For participating producers/exporters, the
determined dumping and injury margins were negative.
o
However, these exporters represented only about 11%
of total imports from the subject country; DGTR therefore considered their
pricing behaviour not representative of the majority of imports.
o
DGTR concluded that injury to the domestic industry
was attributable to dumping of the subject imports.
7.
Public Interest
o
DGTR concluded that imposition of anti-dumping duty
would be in the larger public interest.
o
The Authority noted that no interested party
demonstrated a disproportionate adverse impact on public interest.
8.
Anti-Dumping Duty Recommended
o
DGTR has recommended anti-dumping duty for 5
years from the date of notification by the Central Government.
o
Duty is recommended under the lesser-duty rule,
i.e. the lower of dumping margin and injury margin.
9.
Commercial Invoice Condition
o
Individual producer-specific rates are conditional
upon presentation of a valid commercial invoice containing the
prescribed producer/manufacturer declaration.
o
If the required invoice is not presented, the US$86/MT
rate applicable to other producers would apply.
10.
Important Status
·
This is a DGTR recommendation, not yet the
final levy of anti-dumping duty.
·
The duty will become applicable only after the Central
Government issues the corresponding notification.
11.
Further Procedure
·
An appeal against the Designated Authority's
determination lies before the CESTAT under the applicable provisions of
the Customs Tariff Act/Rules.
Effect of the Findings: DGTR has
recommended a US$86/MT anti-dumping duty on covered Copper Data Cables,
principally for non-individually specified producers/exporters, subject to the
Central Government's notification. The four specifically named Chinese
producers have a recommended rate of Nil.