The government yesterday decided to continue with the anti-dumping duty of up to USD 149 on imports of a chemical used in fermentation of sugar from five countries, including the European Union, Malaysia, Singapore and the US. 

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), in a notification, said Normal Butanol, or N-Butyl Alcohol, exported from the EU, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States was found to be "below normal value, thus establishing dumping of the same". 

The DGTR opines that the domestic industry continues to suffer material injury on account of dumped imports and it is necessary to continue imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of subject goods from the subject countries. 

“The Designated Authority considers it appropriate to recommend continuation of existing quantum of anti-dumping duty on the imports of subject goods from subject countries. The Authority, thus, considers it necessary to recommend continuation of existing definitive anti-dumping duty imposed vide Notification no. I 3/201 6-Customs (ADD) dated I 3-04-201 6. Therefore, anti-dumping duty equal to the amount of the duty is recommended to be imposed from the date of notification to be issued in this regard by the Central Government, on all imports of subject goods, as detailed in column 3 of the duty table, from subject countries for a further period of five years,” the DGTR said in its notification. 

An anti-dumping duty of USD 46.27 per tonne was imposed on imports from the EU while the same from Singapore and South Africa was put at USD 35.66 and USD 13.24, respectively. 

For N-Butyl Alcohol imports from the US, the government went for an anti-dumping duty of USD 24.16. 

Countries the world over impose anti-dumping duties under the multilateral regime of WTO when these see goods being dumped in their territories causing injury to the domestic industry. 

India has already imposed an anti-dumping duty on several products to tackle cheap imports from countries, including China. 

N-Butanol is a product of the fermentation of sugar and other carbohydrates and is present in many foods and beverages. It is also a permitted artificial flavorant in the United States, used in butter, cream, fruit, rum, whiskey, ice cream and ices, candy, baked goods and cordials. It is also used in a wide range of consumer products.