Japan Drags India to WTO Against Steps on Iron, Steel Imports

Japan has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against certain measures taken by New Delhi on imports of iron and steel products. “On 20 Dec, Japan notified the WTO Secretariat that it had requested dispute consultations with India in the dispute ‘India–Certain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products’,” the WTO has said.

India has imposed minimum import price (MIP) on imports of certain iron and steel products. In February, India imposed MIP of 173 products for six months, which was later extended twice for two months. Earlier this month, the government extended MIP on 19 products till 04 Feb’17.

According to the commerce ministry sources, WTO-compliant measures like anti-dumping duty should be used to overcome the issue of cheap imports of commodities like steel as MIP is not compliant with the global trade norms.

India has imposed MIP as growing imports from steel surplus countries like China, Japan and Korea with predatory prices have been a major concern for the domestic industry since Sept’14.

India has also imposed anti-dumping duties on certain steel products to guard domestic players from cheap imports. As Japan has filed the case, it will do bilateral consultations with India on the issue.

As per the WTO’s dispute settlement process, the request for consultations is the first step in a dispute. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation.

After 60 days, if consultations fail to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. India and Japan implemented a comprehensive free trade agreement in 2011. It gave easy access to Japan in the Indian steel market. Indian industry has time and again demanded to take out the steel sector from the pact. But it can happen only after both the sides agree to do the same.

The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 14.51 billion in FY16. Trade is highly in favour of Japan.

India’s finished steel imports from Japan in H1 FY17 – In H1 FY17 (i.e. Apr’16-Sept’16), India imported 2.76 MnT finished steel.

Out of this, 0.44 MnT finished steel was imported from Japan. Out of 0.44 MnT Japan’s finished steel import to India, share of flat steel was 0.43 MnT and that of long steel was 0.01 MnT.

~Sourced