Having regard to the Customs Tariff Act 1975, as amended from time to time and the Customs Tariff

## Report on Corrigendum Notification Regarding Antidumping Investigation of Viscose Staple Fibre **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a corrigendum notification (F. No. 7032021DGTR) issued by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) on March 5, 2021, concerning the sunset review antidumping investigation of Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF) originating in China PR and Indonesia. The corrigendum specifically modifies the product definition under consideration by providing a more detailed list of exclusions. This report details the changes introduced by the corrigendum and their likely impact on the affected industry. The key finding is that the corrigendum clarifies the scope of the antidumping investigation, potentially narrowing the range of products subject to review. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the corrigendum notification (F. No. 7032021DGTR) issued by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) on March 5, 2021, regarding the antidumping investigation of Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF) originating in China PR and Indonesia. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is a *corrigendum*, meaning it amends existing policy. It specifically amends the "initiation notification issued in Sunset review antidumping investigation concerning imports of Viscose Staple Fibre originating in or exported from China PR and Indonesia," specifically referencing notification No. 7032021DGTR dated 22nd February, 2021 and Corrigendum notification of even number dated 23rd February 2021. * **Core Objective:** The primary objective of the *original* sunset review antidumping investigation is likely to determine whether the existing antidumping duties on VSF from China PR and Indonesia should be maintained, revoked, or modified. The *corrigendum's* objective is to clarify the definition of the product under consideration. **4. Background and Rationale:** The notification is a corrigendum, designed to address a potential ambiguity or error in the original initiation notification regarding the product definition. The likely reason for this specific amendment is to provide greater clarity regarding the types of VSF that *are not* subject to the antidumping investigation. This suggests the initial definition may have been overly broad or lacked sufficient specificity, potentially causing confusion or unintended consequences. The specification of exclusions is to provide clarity, potentially in response to industry feedback. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section details the *specific changes* introduced by the corrigendum. * **What specific part of the original policy is being changed:** The corrigendum modifies the description of the "Product under consideration or subject goods," specifically as described in Para 1 Para 6 of the aforesaid notification. * **What the *new* rule/provision *is*:** The new definition of "Viscose Staple Fibre VSF" *excludes* the following: * a Bamboo Fibre * b Modal Fibre * c NonWoven Fibre * d Flame Retardant Fibre * e Eco Fibre Eco Vero or EV * f Spun Dyed Fibre * g Tencel Fibre or Lyocell and Outlast Viscose Fibre * **Explain the *difference* or the *effect* of this specific change:** The original definition of VSF (before the corrigendum) was broader and did not explicitly exclude these specific fibre types. The effect of this change is to narrow the scope of the antidumping investigation. Imports of the specifically excluded fibre types will *not* be subject to the sunset review, and therefore will not be impacted by the maintenance or removal of the antidumping duty on VSF. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * **Importers of Viscose Staple Fibre:** Importers bringing VSF from China PR and Indonesia into India need to understand the revised product definition to determine if their products are subject to the antidumping investigation. * **Domestic Producers of Viscose Staple Fibre:** Domestic producers who petitioned for the antidumping duty are stakeholders, as the clarified product definition affects the scope of protection they receive. * **Exporters of Viscose Staple Fibre from China PR and Indonesia:** These exporters need to be aware of the clarified product definition to determine which of their products are subject to the antidumping investigation. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is the responsible agency for issuing and implementing this corrigendum. The Customs authorities will be responsible for enforcing the antidumping duties based on the revised product definition. * **Timelines or Procedures:** The text references the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, and the Customs Tariff Identification, Assessment and Collection of Antidumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury Rules, 1995, implying that the implementation of this change will follow the established procedures outlined in those documents. The effective date of the change is likely the date of the notification, March 5, 2021. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these specific changes introduced by the corrigendum is to: * **Reduce ambiguity:** Provide clarity to importers, exporters, and domestic producers regarding the specific types of VSF that are subject to the antidumping investigation. * **Narrow the scope of investigation:** Focus the investigation on a more precisely defined set of VSF products. * **Prevent unintended consequences:** Ensure that antidumping duties are not applied to fibre types that were not originally intended to be covered. The potential impact of the amendment is that importers of the excluded fiber types will not be subject to the antidumping duties, potentially increasing their import volumes. Domestic producers may see a reduced scope of protection, as certain competing fiber types are now explicitly excluded. **9. Conclusion:** The corrigendum notification issued by the DGTR clarifies the definition of Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF) subject to the sunset review antidumping investigation. By explicitly excluding specific fibre types, the notification narrows the scope of the investigation, providing greater clarity for importers, exporters, and domestic producers. This amendment is significant as it directly impacts the application of antidumping duties and the competitive landscape for VSF in the Indian market.

Key Entities Referenced