Anti-dumping duty review on sun film imports

The Commerce Ministry has initiated sunset review of the anti-dumping duty imposed since 2003 on imported sun/dust control polyester film from Taiwan and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Commonly called speciality polyester film, the sun/dust control polyester film is used in glass windows to reduce solar heat glare, ultraviolet light and other glare. It also provides increased shatter resistance.

In a notification, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and allied duties in the Department of Commerce said the present investigation is a review as the Authority recommended a definitive dumping duty on the subject goods as the difference between $7.99 a kg and the landed value of imports from Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) and the difference between $8.17 a kg and the landed value of imports from UAE in 2004.

The rules require the Authority to review from time to time the need for continued imposition of the anti-dumping duty. The Authority is also required, on the basis of a duly substantial plea by or on behalf of domestic industry, to undertake a review to determine whether the expiry of duty is likely to lead to recurrence of dumping and injury.

Accordingly, the applicant for the original dumping probe — Garware Polyesters Ltd, Mumbai — has filed an application with the Authority, seeking a review probe for continuation of anti-dumping duty on the subject goods originating or exported from Taiwan and UAE for a further span of five years.

On the state of the industry, the applicant claims that even though the performance of the domestic industry has improved, the situation continues to be ‘fragile’ and ‘injury’ to the domestic industry is likely to intensify in the event of revocation of anti-dumping duties.

The Authority said the period of probe for the present review is from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 and the period for injury examination would include the period of investigation (POI) and three years prior to it, i.e., April 2004-March 2005, April 2005-March 2006 and April 2006-March 2007.