DGTR Recommends Anti-Dumping Duty on Medical Examination Rubber Gloves from Thailand and Malaysia

The commerce ministry's investigation arm, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), has recommended imposing an anti-dumping duty of up to USD 565 per one lakh pieces on imports of medical examination rubber gloves from Thailand and Malaysia. The proposed duty, recommended for a period of five years, aims to protect domestic manufacturers from low-priced imports originating from these two countries.

According to a notification issued by the authority, the DGTR initiated the probe following an application filed by domestic players Navco Industries and Wadi Surgicals. The investigation examined the impact of the alleged dumping of these goods into the Indian market by producers in Thailand and Malaysia.

In its final findings, the DGTR concluded that the domestic industry, which is currently at a nascent stage, has suffered material injury due to these dumped imports. The notification stated that the imposition of the anti-dumping duty is not against the public interest and that the impact of the duty on users and consumers will not be significant. The authority noted that the measure would help restore fair competition in the Indian market.

The recommended duty ranges between USD 442 per one lakh pieces and USD 565 per one lakh pieces. However, the final decision regarding the imposition of the duty rests with the Ministry of Finance.

Anti-dumping duties are trade remedial measures utilized to address foreign imports that are found to be priced below fair value, thereby causing injury to the domestic manufacturing sector. Such interventions are carried out under the multilateral framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Thailand, Malaysia, and India are all members of the organization.

In a separate notification, the DGTR also recommended the continuation of an anti-dumping duty of USD 1,296 per ton on imports of untreated fumed silica from China. This material is utilized across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, foods, and agrochemicals. India has previously imposed anti-dumping duties on several products from multiple countries, including China, as part of trade protection measures.

"The DGTR's recommendation for anti-dumping duties on rubber gloves highlights the challenges faced by early-stage domestic manufacturing sectors competing against lower-priced imports. For nascent industries in India, regulatory trade measures provide essential breathing room to build local production capacities and achieve market stability. While the final decision rests with the finance ministry, businesses operating in import-dependent sectors must carefully evaluate supply chain risks and compliance requirements under WTO frameworks." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes