- DGFT brings up applicants’ unusually high imports in FY’25
- Court to now decide on applications, next hearing on 13 Feb
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has officially rejected a few applications for registration certificates that sought to import a combined total of 3,40,000 t of low-ash metallurgical (LAM) coke from Indonesia, citing concerns over the impact on the domestic industry.
As per sources, the applications, submitted by JSW Steel Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amba River Coke Limited, were in response to the increasing demand for imported LAM coke. However, the DGFT’s decision aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to shield domestic industries from being adversely affected by a surge in imports.
In a detailed analysis, the DGFT pointed out that the applicants had already imported approximately 270,121 t of LAM coke from Indonesia during the current financial year alone, surpassing their total imports from the preceding three years. This substantial volume raised questions about the authenticity of subsequent import requests, which the DGFT believed were made to circumvent existing safeguard measures.
The letter noted, “Granting such relief on technical grounds would undermine the entire safeguard measures, stripping them of their intended efficacy and rendering the protections afforded to the domestic industry completely ineffective.”
In light of these developments, the companies involved could opt to appeal the decision by filing a review application with the DGFT, as permitted under Section 16 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
The court will decide on the applications received, and the next hearing is scheduled for 13 February, highlighted a source.
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