## Policy Analysis Report: Provisional Safeguard Duty on Import of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a new policy notification from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, effective April 21, 2025, imposing a provisional safeguard duty on the import of specific Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products. The policy aims to protect the domestic industry from a surge in imports that are causing or threatening to cause serious injury. The key finding is that a 12% ad valorem safeguard duty is imposed, with exemptions for specific product categories priced above certain CIF values and imports from developing countries (excluding China PR and Viet Nam).
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an overview and analysis of Notification No. 01/2025-Customs, a new policy concerning the imposition of a provisional safeguard duty on the import of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products into India, as published in the Gazette of India. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided policy text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is a *New Policy*.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the primary objective is to protect the Indian domestic industry from serious injury or the threat of serious injury caused by a recent, sudden, sharp, and significant increase in imports of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
As this is a new policy, the text suggests the following rationale: The Director General Trade Remedies (DGTR) has preliminarily concluded that a recent surge in imports of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products is causing or threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic industry. Furthermore, the DGTR identified critical circumstances where any delay in implementing safeguard measures would result in damage that would be difficult to repair, necessitating immediate action.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* A provisional safeguard duty of 12% ad valorem is imposed on the import of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products falling under tariff headings 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 and 7226 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.
* The safeguard duty *shall not* be imposed on the following product categories when imported into India *at or above* the specified import price on CIF basis:
* Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates: USD 675 per MT
* Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates: USD 695 per MT
* Cold Rolled Coils and Sheets: USD 824 per MT
* Metallic Coated Steel Coils and Sheets, whether or not profiled, including Galvanneal, Coated with Zinc or Aluminium-Zinc or Zinc-Aluminium-Magnesium: USD 861 per MT
* Colour Coated coils and sheets, whether or not profiled: USD 964 per MT
* Imports from developing countries, excluding China PR and Viet Nam, are exempt from the safeguard duty.
* The safeguard duty is effective for 200 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette (April 21, 2025), unless revoked, superseded, or amended earlier.
* The policy explicitly excludes several steel products from the scope of the safeguard duty, including Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (CRGO), Stainless Steel, and Titanium Clad Plates (a full list is available in the provided text).
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders are:
* Domestic producers of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products in India.
* Importers of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products into India.
* Consumers and downstream industries that use these steel products.
* The Director General Trade Remedies (DGTR) and the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Central Government, specifically the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, is responsible for implementing the safeguard duty. The DGTR plays a crucial role in the initial findings and recommendations.
* **Timelines:** The safeguard duty is effective for 200 days from April 21, 2025, unless otherwise amended.
* **Procedures:** The applicable rate of exchange for calculating the safeguard duty is specified in notifications issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, under Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962. The relevant date for determining the exchange rate is the date of presentation of the bill of entry. Import price on CIF basis means the assessable value as determined under section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes and impacts of this policy are:
* **Protection of Domestic Industry:** To shield domestic producers of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products from the adverse effects of increased imports.
* **Increased Domestic Production:** To encourage and stimulate domestic production of these steel products.
* **Potential Price Increases:** The safeguard duty may lead to increased prices for imported Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products, potentially impacting downstream industries that rely on these materials.
* **Shift in Import Sources:** Importers may shift their sourcing to developing countries (excluding China PR and Viet Nam) to avoid the safeguard duty, or to higher-priced products to avoid the tariff.
**9. Conclusion:**
The imposition of a provisional safeguard duty on imports of Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products represents a significant policy intervention aimed at protecting the Indian domestic steel industry. The policy establishes a 12% ad valorem duty with specific price-based exemptions and exclusions for certain countries. Its effectiveness in achieving its stated objectives and its broader economic impact will depend on various factors, including the global steel market dynamics and the responsiveness of domestic producers and importers. The policy is valid for 200 days, and its impact should be monitored to determine if the safeguard measures are achieving the desired results and whether any adjustments are necessary.
Key Entities Referenced
Customs Tariff Act, 1975: Refers to the Customs Tariff Act of 1975, specifically mentioned in relation to tariff headings.
7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 and 7226: Tariff headings under the Customs Tariff Act related to Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products.
Director General Trade Remedies: The organization whose preliminary findings are cited in the notification regarding safeguard measures.
Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part I, Section 1: Publication in which the preliminary findings of the Director General Trade Remedies were published.
Customs Tariff Identification and Assessment of Safeguard Measures Rules, 1997: Rules under which the safeguard duty is imposed.
Central Government: The entity imposing the provisional safeguard duty.
India: The country to which the safeguard duty applies to imports.
twelve per cent ad valorem: The rate of the provisional safeguard duty imposed.
Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates: Product category subject to import price conditions.
Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates: Product category subject to import price conditions.
Cold Rolled Coils and Sheets: Product category subject to import price conditions.
Metallic Coated Steel Coils and Sheets: Product category subject to import price conditions.
Colour Coated coils and sheets: Product category subject to import price conditions.
675: Import price on CIF basis for Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates.
695: Import price on CIF basis for Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates.
824: Import price on CIF basis for Cold Rolled Coils and Sheets.
861: Import price on CIF basis for Metallic Coated Steel Coils and Sheets.
964: Import price on CIF basis for Colour Coated coils and sheets.
USD: Currency of the Import price on CIF basis.
China PR: Country excluded from the developing countries exception of safeguard duty.
Viet Nam: Country excluded from the developing countries exception of safeguard duty.
Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue: The government entity issuing the notification.
Customs Act, 1962: Act related to the determination of rate of exchange and assessable value.
Section 8B: Section of the Customs Tariff Act related to safeguard measures.
Section 14: Section of the Customs Act related to the determination of assessable value.
Section 46: Section of the Customs Act related to the presentation of the bill of entry.
New Delhi: Location where notification was issued
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-21042025-262579
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D1H0x4x2x0 25-262579
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 204] िई दिल्ली, सोमिार, अप्रैल 21, 2025/ििै ाख 1, 1947
No. 204] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2025/VAISAKHA 1, 1947
जित्त मत्रं ालय
(रािस्ट्ि जिभाग)
अधिसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 21 अप्रलै , 2025
स.ं 01/2025- सीमा िल्ु क (एसिी)
सा.का.जि. 243(अ).— िबदक सीमािुल् क टैररफ अजधजियम, 1975 (1975 का 51) (एतजममि पम चात जिस े
सीमािुल्क टैररफ अजधजियम स े संिर्भित दकया गया ह)ै की प्रथम अिुसूची के िीर् ि 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212,
7225 अथिा 7226 के अंतगति आि े िाल े“गरै -जमजित धात ुऔर जमजित धात ुइस्ट्पात फ्लैट उत्पािों” अथाित ् (ए) हॉट रोल्ड
कॉइल, िीट और प्लेटें, (बी) हॉट रोल्ड प्लेट जमल प्लेट्स, (सी) कोल्ड रोल्ड कॉइल और िीट, (डी) धातु लेजपत स्ट्टील कॉइल
और िीट, चाह े प्रोफाइल दकए गए हों या िहीं, गैल्िेजियल सजहत, जिंक या एल्यूमीजियम-िस्ट्ता या जिंक-एल्यूमीजियम-
मैग्नीजियम के साथ लेजपत, और (ई) रंग लेजपत कॉइल और िीट, चाह ेप्रोफाइल दकए गए हों या िहीं (एतजममि पम चात जिस े
जिर्यगत िस्ट्तओंु के रूप में संिर्भित दकया गया ह)ै , के आयात के मामले म ेंमहाजििेिक (व्यापार उपचार) प्रारंजभक जिष्कर्ों
में, जिस े अजधसूचिा संख्या 22/01/2024- डीिीटीआर दििांक 18 माच,ि 2025 को भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग I,
खंड 1 म ें प्रकाजित दकया गया था, म ेंअिंजतम रूप स ेइस जिष्कर्ि पर पहुचें ह ैंदक-
2646 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
i. भारत म ें जिर्यगत िस्ट्तओंु के आयात म ें हाल ही में, अचािक, तीव्र और महत्िपूण ि िृजि हुई ह,ै जिसस े
जिर्यगत िस्ट्तुओं के उत्पािकों को गंभीर क्षजत हुयी ह ैऔर होिे दक आिंका ह;ै
ii. ऐसी गंभीर पररजस्ट्थया ाँ मौिूि हैं, िहााँ अिंजतम सुरक्षा उपायों को लाग ू करि े म ें दकये गए जिलम्ब से ऐसी
क्षजत होगी, जिसकी भरपाई कर पािा करिि होगा;
iii. अिंजतम सरु क्षा उपायों को तत्काल लाग ूकरि े दक आिमयकता है,
और तििुसार भारत में जिर्यगत िस्ट्तओंु के आयात पर अिंजतम सुरक्षा िल्ु क लगािे की जसफाररि की ह;ै
अतः अब सीमा िल्ु क टैररफ (सरु क्षा िल्ु क की पहचाि और जिधािरण) जियमािली, 1997 के जियम 10 और 14 के
साथ परित सीमा िुल्क टैररफ अजधजियम की धारा 8 ख की उप-धारा (5) के द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए केन्द र
सरकार, महाजििेिक (व्यापार उपचार) के उपयुिक् त जिष्क र्ों पर जिचार करि े के पम चात, प्रथम अिुसूची के िीर् ि 7208,
7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 अथिा 7226 के अतं गति आिे िाली जिर्यगत िस्ट्तओंु पर, िब िे भारत में आयाजतत
होती ह ैं, पर बारह प्रजतित की िर से अिंजतम सरु क्षा िल्ु क लगाती हIै
2. िीचे िी गयी सारणी के कॉलम (2) की तत्सम्बन्दधी प्रजिजि में जिर्ििि उत्पाि िेजणयों पर, िब उिका आयात उि
सारणी के कॉलम (3) में िी गयी तत्सम्बन्दधी प्रजिजि के अिुसार सीआईएफ आधाररत आयात मल्ू य पर या उससे अजधक मूल्य
पर, कॉलम (5) में सम्बंजधत प्रजिजि में जिर्ििि मुरा म ेंऔर उि ताजलका के कॉलम (4) में सम्बंजधत प्रजिजि की माप की इकाई
के अिुसार दकया गया हो, पर कोई सुरक्षा िल्ु क िहीं लगाया िायेगा यथा:
सारणी
क्र.स.ं उत्पाि िेणी सीआईएफ आधार इकाई मुरा
(2) पर आयात मल्ू य (4) (5)
(1)
(3)
1. हॉट रोल्ड कॉइल, िीट और प्लटे ें, 675 मी टि यूएसडी
2. एचआर प्लेट जमल प्लेट्स 695 मी टि यूएसडी
3. कोल्ड रोल्ड कॉइल और िीट 824 मी टि यूएसडी
4. धातु लेजपत स्ट्टील कॉइल और िीट, चाह े मी टि यूएसडी
प्रोफाइल दकए गए हों या िहीं, गैल्िेजियल
861
सजहत, जिंक या एल्यूमीजियम-िस्ट्ता या
जिंक-एल्यूमीजियम-मैग्नीजियम के साथ
लेजपत
5. रंग लेजपत कॉइल और िीट, चाह ेप्रोफाइल मी टि यूएसडी
964
दकए गए हों या िहीं
3. इस अजधसूचिा में जिजहत कोई भी बात, चीि िि. गण. एिं जियतिाम के अलािा, सीमा िुल्क टैररफ अजधजियम
की धारा 8 (ख) की उप-धारा (2) के अतं गति जिकासिील िेिों के रूप म ें अजधसूजचत ििे ों स े होिे िाल े जिर्यगत िस्ट्तुओं के
आयात पर लाग ूिहीं होगीI
4. इस अजधसूचिा के अंतगित लगाया गया अिंजतम सरु क्षा िुल्क, इस अजधसूचिा के सरकारी रािपत्र म ें प्रकािि की
तारीख से िो सौ दििों की अिजध के जलए प्रभािी रहगे ा (िब तक दक इसे पहले ही रद्द, संिोजधत या अजधक्रजमत ि कर दिया
िाए) और यह भारतीय मरु ा म ेंिेय होगा।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
स्ट्पिीकरण- इस अजधसूचिा के प्रयोििों के जलए,
(i) जिचाराधीि उत्पाि के िायरे म ेंजिम्नजलजखत उत्पाि िाजमल िहीं ह:ैं
क). कोल्ड रोल्ड ग्रेि ओररएंटेड इलेजक्रकल स्ट्टील (सीआरिीओ);
ख). कोल्ड रोल्ड िॉि-ओररएंटेड इलजे क्रकल स्ट्टील (सीआरएिओ) कॉइल एडं िीट्स;
ग). कोरटड - इलेक्रो गल्ै िेिाइज्ड स्ट्टील;
घ). रटिप्लेट्स;
ङ). स्ट्टेिलेस स्ट्टील;
च). जिकेल कोरटड/जिकेल प्लेरटड कोल्ड रोल्ड स्ट्टील;
छ). रबर कोरटड स्ट्टील;
ि). इलेक्रो गैल्िेिाइज्ड (ईिी) - जिंक जिकेल कोरटड स्ट्टील;
झ). बाई-मेटल स्ट्टील / बाई-मेटल सडैं जिच स्ट्टील;
ञ). ब्रास कोरटड स्ट्टील िायर;
ट). क्रूटोिाइट;
ि). इिकोिेल;
ड). स्ट्टेिलेस स्ट्टील मिें;
ढ). अल्युजमजियम कोटीड स्ट्टील;
ण). अल्युजमजियम जसजलकॉि कोटेड/हॉट जडप्ड अल्युजमिाइज्ड जसजलकॉि कोरटड स्ट्टील;
त). हॉट रोल्ड क्लैड स्ट्टील प्लेट;
थ). जिकल प्लेटेड स्ट्टील / जिकल प्लेटेड जस्ट्रप;
ि). कॉपर प्लेटेड स्ट्टील;
ध). लैजमिेरटड इलेक्रो गल्ै िेिाइज्ड (ईिीआई);
ि). कोबाल्ट प्लेरटड स्ट्टील;
ऩ). जसल्िर प्लेरटड स्ट्टील; और
प). टाइटेजियम क्लडै प्लेट्स;
(ii) सुरक्षा िुल्क की गणिा के प्रयोििों के जलए लागू जिजिमय िर िह िर होगी िो सीमा िुल्क अजधजियम, 1962
(1962 का 52) की धारा 14 द्वारा प्रित िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, समय-समय पर िारी भारत सरकार के जित्त
मंत्रालय (रािस्ट्ि जिभाग) की अजधसूचिा म ेंजिर्ििि ह,ै और जिजिमय िर के जिधािरण के जलए प्रासंजगक तारीख उि
सीमा िुल्क अजधजियम की धारा 46 के तहत आगम पत्र की प्रस्ट्तुजत की तारीख होगी; और4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(iii) “सीआईएफ आधार पर आयात मूल्य” का अजभप्राय िह आंकलि योग्य मूल्य ह ै जिसका जिधािरण सीमा िल्ु क
अजधजियम, 1962 (1962 का 52) की धारा 14 के अतं गति दकया गया होI
[फा. स.ं 190354/42/2025-टीआरयू]
धीरि िमाि, अिर सजचि
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 21st April, 2025
No. 01/2025-Customs (SG)
G.S.R. 243(E).— Whereas, in the matter of import of “Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products”, namely (a)
Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates, (b) Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates, (c) Cold Rolled coils and sheets, (d) Metallic Coated
Steel coils and sheets, whether or not profiled, including Galvanneal, Coated with Zinc or Aluminium-Zinc or Zinc-
Aluminium-Magnesium, and (e) Colour Coated coils and sheets, whether or not profiled (hereinafter referred to as the
subject goods), falling under tariff headings 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 and 7226 of the First Schedule to the
Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the Customs Tariff Act), the Director General (Trade
Remedies) in his preliminary findings vide notification No. 22/01/2024-DGTR, published in the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part I, Section 1, dated the 18th March 2025, has provisionally concluded that :
i. there is a recent, sudden, sharp, and significant increase in imports of subject goods into India, causing and
threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry/producers of subject goods;
ii. there exist critical circumstances, where any delay in application of provisional safeguard measures would
cause damage which would be difficult to repair;
iii. there is a necessity for immediate application of provisional safeguard measures,
and has accordingly recommended the imposition of provisional safeguard duty on imports of the subject goods into
India;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (5) of section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act,
read with rules 10 and 14 of the Customs Tariff (Identification and Assessment of Safeguard Measures) Rules, 1997,
the Central Government after considering the said findings of the Director General (Trade Remedies), hereby imposes
on subject goods falling under tariff headings 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7225 and 7226 of the First Schedule to the
Customs Tariff Act, when imported into India, a provisional safeguard duty at the rate of twelve per cent ad valorem.
2. The safeguard duty shall not be imposed on the product categories as specified in the corresponding entry in
column (2) of the Table below, when imported into India, at or above the import price on CIF basis as mentioned in the
corresponding entry in column (3), in the currency as specified in the corresponding entry in column (5) and as per unit
of measurement as specified in the corresponding entry in column (4) of the said Table, namely :-
TABLE
Sl. No. Product Category Import price on Unit Currency
(1) (2) CIF basis (4) (5)
(3)
1. Hot Rolled coils, sheets and plates 675 MT USD
2. Hot Rolled Plate Mill Plates 695 MT USD
3. Cold Rolled Coils and Sheets 824 MT USD[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
4. Metallic Coated Steel Coils and Sheets,
whether or not profiled, including
Galvanneal, Coated with Zinc or 861 MT USD
Aluminium-Zinc or Zinc-Aluminium-
Magnesium
5. Colour Coated coils and sheets, whether
964 MT USD
or not profiled
3. Nothing contained in this notification shall apply to imports of subject goods from countries notified as
developing countries under sub-section (2) of section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act, other than China PR and Viet Nam.
4. The safeguard duty imposed under this notification shall be effective for a period of two hundred days (unless
revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and
shall be payable in Indian currency.
Explanation: For the purposes of this notification,
(i) The following products are excluded from the scope of subject goods:
a) Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (CRGO);
b) Cold Rolled Non-Oriented Electrical Steel (CRNO) coils and sheets;
c) Coated - Electro Galvanized Steel;
d) Tinplate;
e) Stainless steel;
f) Nickel Coated / Nickel Plated Cold Rolled Steel;
g) Rubber Coated Steel;
h) Electro Galvanised (EG) – Zinc Nickel Coated Steel;
i) Bi-Metal Steel / Bi-Metal Sandwich Steel;
j) Brass Coated Steel Wire;
k) CRUTONITE;
l) INCONEL;
m) Stainless Steel Items;
n) Aluminium Coated Steel;
o) Aluminium Silicon Coated / Hot Dipped Aluminised Silicon Coated Steel;
p) Hot Rolled Clad Steel Plate;
q) Nickel Plated Steel / Nickel Plated Strip;
r) Copper Plated Steel;
s) Laminated Electro Galvanized (EGI);
t) Cobalt Plated Steel;
u) Silver Plated Steel; and
v) Titanium Clad Plates;
(ii) the rate of exchange applicable for the purposes of calculation of the safeguard duty shall be the rate which
is specified in the notification of the Government of India, in the Ministry of Finance (Department of
Revenue), issued from time to time, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Customs Act,
1962 (52 of 1962), and the relevant date for the determination of the rate of exchange shall be the date of
presentation of the bill of entry under section 46 of the said Customs Act; and
(iii) “Import price on CIF basis” means the assessable value as determined under section 14 of the Customs
Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).
[F. No. 190354/42/2025-TRU]
DHEERAJ SHARMA, Under Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.