The total steel production in the country has increased from 88.98 MT in 2014-15 to 103.13 MT in 2017-18. The Minister of State for Steel, Vishnu Deo Sai, informed this in Lok Sabha today. The Government has notified the National Steel Policy, 2017 and the Policy for Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured Iron and Steel (DMI&SP) in Government procurement, which create facilitative environment to improve domestic production and consumption of steel. With a view to provide relief to the domestic industry, the Government of India took the following measures:
- Increased Customs Duty on steel in two phases-in June’15 and Aug.’15, by 2.5% each.
- Minimum Import Price (MIP) imposed on specified steel products in Feb.’16. MIP has since expired in Feb.’17.
- Imposed 20% Safeguard Duty on Hot Rolled Coils, provisionally in Sept.’15 and finally notifying it in August, 2016.
- Imposed Safeguard Duty on Hot Rolled not in Coils, provisionally in Aug. and finally in Nov.’16.
- Imposed Anti dumping measures for HR Coils provisionally in Aug.’16 and finally notified in May’17.
Imposed Anti dumping measures for CR Coils provisionally in Aug.’16 and finally notified in May’17.
- Imposed Anti dumping measures for Wire rods provisionally in Sep.’16 and finally notified in Oct.’17.
- Imposed Anti-dumping duties for Colour Coated Steel provisionally in Jan.’17 and final notification issued in Oct.’17.
- Sunset review of SS Cold Rolled 600-1250mm wherein duties extended upto 2020. On China, additional Countervailing Duty (CVD) @18.95% for 5 years from Sept.’17.
- Imposed Anti dumping duties on SS Hot Rolled products in March’14 valid upto 2020. On China, additional CVD@18.95% for 5 years from Sept.’17.
Government of India has also issued Quality Control Orders namelySteel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2018 covering 47 carbon/alloy steel and 6 stainless steel products. The Quality Control Order prohibits manufacturing / import of sub-standard / seconds and defective products.
In reply to another question the Minister of State for Steel said India has not been much impacted by the tariff imposed by USA since India’s exports to the USA were just around 2.2% before the imposition of the tariff.