Ceramic firms insist on heavy ADD on Chinese tiles imports

The Dollar Business Bureau

Ceramics associations together with other tile industry players are likely to make a representation to the government to re-introduce the anti-dumping duty (ADD) on the imports of tiles from China and enhance the duty to $2 per square metre or more.

The 6-month tenure of ADD on tiles import from China ended on September 30, 2016, said Kamlesh Patel, Chairman and MD of Asian Granito India Ltd (AGIL).

On March 30, this year, the government through a notification, imposed an ADD of $1.37 per square metre on tiles importedfrom China in order to safeguard the domestic industry. The levy was meant in effect for six months, beginning April 1, 2016.

“The six-month tenure of that notification has lapsed on September 30. Thus, various ceramics associations and tile manufacturers of the organised sector have decided to make a representation to the government to re-introduce the duty to protect the domestic players,” said Patel during his interaction with journalists at the company’s plant in Mehsana on Wednesday.

"In addition, we want the Centre to consider increasing the duty to $2 per square metre or more. Earlier, the duty charges of $1.37 did not work out to be effective because of decline in freight charges per container from China that went in their favour," he added.