The Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry has recommended imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty on import of polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) from China that is widely used in electrical, electronic, mechanical and chemical industries.

The recommendation has been made following a sun-set review as the extant anti-dumping duty term is about to expire.

PTFE is produced in various grades which have unique features such as chemical inertness, electrical and thermal insulation, low coefficient of friction, non-toxic, non-flammable, resistance to radiation and outstanding electrical properties over a wide frequency range.

The existing definitive anti-dumping duty on the subject goods from China was imposed in October 2005.

Subsequently, the Authority conducted a mid-term review of the extant dumping duty and modified it from April 2010.

The sunset review only adds on to the last mid-term review by ensuring that the revocation of dumping duty of the subject goods from China would be injurious to the indigenous industry.

The petition in the original case was filed by Hindustan Fluorocarbons Ltd and mid-term review petition was filed by Gujarat Fluorocarbons Ltd and Hindustan Fluorocarbons Ltd as domestic industry.

After due probe, the Authority established that the subject goods have been exported to India, from China, below the normal value despite the anti-dumping duty being in place.
The material injury has been caused by the dumped imports which would get further aggravated in case of revocation of duty, given the huge unutilised production capacities available within China and large volume of Chinese exports to other countries below its export price to India.

Hence, the Authority recommended imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty on Chinese manufacturer-exporter DuPont (Changshu Fluoro Technology Company Ltd) of $2.48 a kg, while the same producer exporting from any other source outside China should have to shell out a higher anti-dumping duty of $3.87 a kg.

All other Chinese manufacturers or exporters sourcing from China would have to pay an anti-dumping duty of $3.87 a kg, the Authority said.