India has imposed anti-dumping duty of up to US$379 per dry tonne on imports of a chemical, used in soaps, detergent and drugs, from Thailand, Norway and Taiwan to protect domestic players.

The restrictive duty on import of 'Caustic Soda' would be imposed for a period of five years, the Department of Revenue said.

"The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier)," the department said.

Caustic Soda is also used in manufacturing of pulp and paper, newsprint, viscose yarn, aluminium, cotton, dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals and petroleum refining.

The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), a nodal agency under the Commerce Ministry, had recommended imposition of the duty.

This was after its probe revealed that domestic industry had suffered a material injury on account of dumped imports of the chemical from Thailand, Norway and Taiwan (Chinese Taipei).

The country had already imposed this duty on imports of other products, including fabrics, yarn, nylon tyre cord and several chemicals.

Anti-dumping duty is recommended by the Commerce Ministry, while the Finance Ministry imposes the same.

Unlike safeguard duties which are levied in a uniform way, anti-dumping duties vary from product to product and from country to country.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.

As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.