New Delhi: India was second only to Argentina among the G-20 nations in initiating anti-dumping investigations during January-July 2009, and tops the list of countries that have launched safeguard probes, a WTO report says.

According to the report, India had started 15 anti- dumping investigations in the first seven months of 2009, while Argentina accounted for 19. In the same period a year ago New Delhi had initiated 13 anti-dumping investigations.

On the basis of analysis of historical patterns of anti- dumping and safeguard activities in previous business cycles, it is to be expected that the current economic crisis will result in a significant rise in the use of these steps, it said.

"This is, therefore, an area in which particular restraint is called for by G-20 members," it said.

In 2009, the number of anti-dumping investigations initiated by G-20 members is at par with that in the same period of 2008, although the distribution of investigations among individual members has changed substantially in a few cases, it added.

During the period, the G-20 nations had initiated 86 anti- dumping measures, aimed at protecting their domestic industries from cheap imports.

The report prepared on the request of G-20 leaders would be presented during G-20 Summit at Pittsburgh later this month.