New Delhi, Mar 12 (KNN) India has informed the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Committee on Safeguards that it has initiated a safeguard investigation on sodium citrate, to protect domestic producers of the substance against threat caused by increased imports of the same.

The Director General (Safeguards), Customs and Central Excise has initiated the safeguard investigation following a petition from domestic producers who account for 90 per cent of the production of sodium citrate.

Sodium Citrate is a chemical compound that comes in the form of monosodium citrate, disodium citrate and trisodium citrate. It is sodium salt of citric acid and has a sour and salty taste.Sodium Citrate is mainly used as an expectorant and urine alkanizer. It is also used as a pharmaceutical aid, food additive in dairy Industries laboratory reagent in water treatment, acidity regulator in drinks, an emulsifier for oils when making cheese and an antioxidant in food etc.

A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.Sodium Citrate is imported into India from a number of countries, and primarily from China.

The imports of Sodium Citrate have shown an increasing trend in absolute terms as well as in relative terms. The Imports have increased from 2621 MT in 2010-11 to 4791 MT in 2013-14.The applicants have claimed that the increased imports of “Sodium Citrate” have caused or threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic producers of “Sodium Citrate.”The domestic industry has requested for immediate imposition of safeguard measures for a period of four years in their application. The domestic industry has also requested for imposition of provisional safeguard duty in view of performance of the domestic industry as a result of increased imports of product under consideration.

The application has been examined by the commissioner’s office and it has been found that prima facie increased imports of “Sodium Citrate” have caused or are threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic producers “Sodium Citrate” and such increase in imports has caused irreparable damage to the domestic industry and accordingly, it has been decided to initiate an investigation through this notice. (KNN/ES)

Source:knnindia.co.in