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DGTR reschedules anti-dumping hearing on imports of calcium carbonate filler masterbatch from Vietnam
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
June 14 , 2025
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The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has announced the rescheduling of the fresh oral hearing in the investigation concerning imports of calcium carbonate filler masterbatch from Vietnam. Originally scheduled for June 19, 2025, at 3:00 PM IST, the hearing will now take place on July 7, 2025, at the same time.
Calcium carbonate filler masterbatch is a compound made from calcium carbonate, polyethylene resin, and various additives. It is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a filler, diluent, and binder in the formulation of tablets, capsules, powders, and granules. The product is valued for being cost-effective, non-toxic, and versatile, making it a staple in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The anti-dumping investigation was initiated by DGTR on September 30, 2024, following a petition filed by the Compounds and Masterbatch Manufacturers Association of India (CMMAI) and the Masterbatch Manufacturers Association (MMA). The petition alleged that Vietnamese-origin calcium carbonate filler masterbatch was being dumped in the Indian market at prices below fair value, causing material injury to domestic manufacturers.
The applicants argued that these imports were undercutting domestic prices and harming India’s production capacity, of which over 90% is represented by CMMAI and MMA members. Many of these producers operate in the small-scale or unorganized sector, making them particularly vulnerable to unfair pricing.
The investigation, being carried out under the provisions of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti-dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, seeks to assess whether anti-dumping duties are justified.
The rescheduling of the hearing follows multiple requests from stakeholders seeking additional time to fulfill procedural requirements, including the filing of questionnaire responses. In light of this, DGTR had previously extended the deadline for filing these responses. Original Deadline was 15 days from DGTR’s December 4, 2024, notification. The first extension was until January 3, 2025. This followed with second extension until February 10, 2025.
At the time of the first extension, the DGTR had stated that no further time would be granted. However, citing genuine procedural constraints raised by various parties, the authority opted for a second extension to ensure comprehensive stakeholder participation in the investigation.
According to preliminary findings, the dumping margin for the imported product appears to exceed the de minimis threshold, and the imports are exerting price-depressing and undercutting effects on the domestic market. This supports the domestic industry’s claim of material injury.
Based on these assessments, the DGTR will determine whether the imposition of anti-dumping duties is warranted to ensure a level playing field for India’s domestic industry.
The outcome of this investigation is expected to have far-reaching implications for India's trade protection framework, especially in shielding small and medium-scale industries from unfair global trade practices. The DGTR has urged all stakeholders to adhere strictly to the revised timelines and participate actively in the upcoming oral hearing.
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