## Policy Analysis Report: Termination of Countervailing Duty Investigation on Soda Ash from Turkey
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) regarding the termination of a countervailing duty investigation on imports of Soda Ash originating in or exported from Turkey. The core purpose of this notification is to officially terminate the investigation following a written request from the domestic industry that initiated the investigation. Key findings indicate the termination is based on established rules allowing for such action when the domestic industry withdraws its petition.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an overview and analysis of a notification issued by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) concerning the termination of a countervailing duty investigation on imports of Soda Ash from Turkey. The analysis is based solely on the text of the provided notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This notification pertains to the termination of an investigation, not a new policy creation.
* **Core Objective:** The objective, as stated in the text, is to formally terminate the countervailing duty investigation concerning Soda Ash imports from Turkey.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This is the termination of an existing investigation, therefore no background on a new policy is available.
* **Rationale for Termination:** The likely reason for the termination is the domestic industry's (Ms. DCW Limited, Ms. RSPL Limited, and Ms. GHCL Limited) decision to withdraw their petition. The notification explicitly states that the domestic industry requested termination with the liberty to resubmit the same with a new investigation period.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This is not a new policy, but rather the termination of an ongoing investigation. Therefore, the focus is on the implications of this specific action.
* **Specific Policy Part Affected:** Rule 161a of the "Rules" (Customs Tariff Identification, Assessment and Collection of Countervailing Duty on Subsidized Articles and for Determination of Injury Rules, 1995) is the specific rule allowing termination.
* **New Rule/Provision (Termination):** The rule states that the designated authority *shall* terminate an investigation immediately if it receives a request in writing from the domestic industry that initiated the investigation.
* **Effect of Change:** The effect of invoking this rule is that the investigation into alleged subsidies related to Soda Ash imports from Turkey is now officially closed. No countervailing duties will be imposed as a result of this investigation. The domestic industry retains the option to re-initiate the investigation at a later date.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the provided text, the directly affected stakeholders include:
* **Ms. DCW Limited, Ms. RSPL Limited, and Ms. GHCL Limited:** The domestic industry that initiated and then withdrew the petition.
* **Exporters/Producers of Soda Ash in Turkey:** They are no longer subject to the countervailing duty investigation.
* **Importers/Users of Soda Ash in India:** The cost of Soda Ash imports from Turkey may be affected by this decision.
* **Government of Turkey:** Their producers are no longer subject to the investigation.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is the responsible agency for implementing the termination.
* **Procedure:** The termination was initiated following a written request from the domestic industry. The DGTR then issued a public notice in the Gazette of India to formally announce the termination.
* **Timelines:** The domestic industry's request was dated 21st January, 2021, and the notification of termination was dated 27th January, 2021. This suggests a relatively swift processing of the termination request.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcome of this termination is to cease the investigation into alleged subsidies on Soda Ash imports from Turkey.
* **Impact of the Termination:**
* Producers in Turkey can continue exporting Soda Ash to India without the immediate threat of countervailing duties.
* Importers may benefit from potentially lower prices for Soda Ash.
* The domestic industry may experience continued competition from Turkish imports, however, they have the option to re-file.
**9. Conclusion:**
The notification analyzed in this report documents the termination of a countervailing duty investigation on Soda Ash imports from Turkey, initiated by the DGTR. This action follows a formal withdrawal request from the domestic industry, as per established rules. The termination releases Turkish producers from the investigation and its potential consequences, while giving the Domestic Industry time to re-evaluate the investigation and resubmit for a new investigation period. The domestic industry retains the right to re-initiate the investigation in the future.
Key Entities Referenced
Customs Tariff Act, 1975: Indian Law regarding customs tariffs, as amended.
Customs Tariff Identification, Assessment and Collection of Countervailing Duty on Subsidized Articles and for Determination of Injury Rules, 1995: Indian rules pertaining to countervailing duty on subsidized articles.
Ms. DCW Limited: Applicant and part of the domestic industry that filed the antisubsidy investigation application.
Ms RSPL Limited: Applicant and part of the domestic industry that filed the antisubsidy investigation application.
Ms GHCL Limited: Applicant and part of the domestic industry that filed the antisubsidy investigation application.
Designated Authority: The authority responsible for the antisubsidy investigation.
Soda Ash: Product under consideration or subject goods in the countervailing duty investigation.
Turkey: Subject country from which Soda Ash imports originated or were exported.
Directorate General of Trade Remedies: Part of MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, responsible for trade remedies
Agreement on subsidies and countervailing measures: Agreement referred in the document, for consultation between countries
New Delhi: Location of MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-27012021-224719
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CG-DL-E-27012021-224719
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग I—खण्ड 1
PART I—Section 1
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 34] िई ददल्ली, बुधवार, ििवरी 27, 2021/माघ 7, 1942
No. 34] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021/MAGHA 7, 1942
वाजणज्य एव ं उद्योग मत्रं ालय
(वाजणज्य जवभाग)
(व्यापार उपचार महाजिदिे ालय)
अजधसचू िा
िाचं समाजि
िई ददल्ली, 27 ििवरी, 2021
जवषय : तकु ी के मलू के अथवा वहा ं स े जियाजा तत ‘’सोडा ऐि’’ के आयातों स े सबं ंजधत प्रजतसतं लु िकारी िल्ु क िाचं की
समाजि ।
क. प्रस्ट्त ाविा :
फा. स.ं 6/38/2019-डीिीटीआर.— 1. समय-समय पर यथासंिोजधत सीमािुल्क टैररफ अजधजियम, 1975
(जिसे आग े अजधजियम भी कहा गया ह)ै और उसकी सीमािुल्क टैररफ (सजससडी प्राप् त वस्ट्तुओं की पहचाि, उि पर
प्रसंतुलिकारी िुल्क का आकलि और संग्रहण तथा क्षजतजिधाारण) जियमावली, 1995 (जिसे आग ेजियमावली भी कहा गया
ह)ै को ध् याि मर रखत े ए ए मै. डीसीडस ल् यू जलजमटेड, मै. आरएसपीएल जलजमटेड और मै. िीएचसीएल जलजमटेड (जिन् ह र आग े
आवेदक कहा गया ह)ै िे जिर्दष्ा ट प्राजधकारी (जिन् ह र आगे प्राजधकारी भी कहा गया ह)ै के समक्ष एक आवेदि दायर दकया ह ै
जिसमर तुकी (जिस े आगे संबद्ध देि भी कहा गया ह)ै के मूल के अथवा वहां से जियााजतत ‘’सोडा ऐि’’ (जिसे आग े
जवचाराधीि उत् पाद या संबद्ध वस्ट् त ु भी कहा गया ह)ै के आयातों स े संबंजधत सजससडीरोधी िांच िुरू करि े और
सजससडीरोधी िुल् क लगाि े का अिुरोध दकया गया ह ै ।
511 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC.1]
2. प्राजधकारी ि े आवेदक द्वारा प्रस्ट्त ुत प्रथमदष्् ट या सा्य के आधार पर जियम 6 के अिुसार सबं द्ध िांच िरूु करत े
ए ए भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण म र प्रकाजित अजधसूचिा सं. 6/38/2019-डीिीटीआर ददिाकं 2 माच,ा 2020 के
माध् यम स े एक सावािजिक सूचिा िारी की थी तादक कजथत सजससडी की मौिूदगी, मात्रा और प्रभाव का जिधाारण
दकया िा सके और सजससडीरोधी िुल् क/प्रजतसंतुलिकारी िल्ु क की ऐसी राजि की जसफाररि की िा सके जिसे यदद
लगाया िाए तो घरेलू उद्योग को ए ई क्षजत को समाप् त करिे के जलए पयााप् त होगी ।
ख. प्रदिया
3. प्राजधकारी ि े संबंजधत जियम के उपजियम (5) के अिुसार िांच की िरूु आत करि े स े पहले वतामाि सजससडीरोधी
आवेदि की प्राजि के बारे मर भारत म रमर संबद्ध देि के दतावास को अजधसूजचत दकया ।
4. प्राजधकारी ि े सजससडी तथा प्रजतसंतुलिकारी उपाय संबंधी करार के अिुच्छ ेद-13 के अिुसार जस्ट्थजत को स्ट् पष्ट
करिे और एक परस्ट् पर सहमत समाधाि जिकालिे के उ्े् य स े तुकी की सरकार को जवचार-जवमिा हते ु आमंजत्रत
दकया । यह जवचार-जवमिा 11 फ़रवरी 2020 को ए आ था जिसमर तुकी सरकार के प्रजतजिजधयों िे भाग जलया था।
5. प्राजधकारी ि े संबद्ध वस्ट् त ु के आयातों से संबंजधत प्रजतसंतलु िकारी िल्ु क/सजससडीरोधी िांच िुरू करत े ए ए भारत
के रािपत्र, असाधारण म रप्रकाजित ददिांक 2 माच,ा 2020 की एक सावािजिक सूचिा िारी की ।
6. प्राजधकारी िे ददिांक 2 माचा, 2020 की िांच िरूु आत सबं ंधी अजधसूचिा की एक-एक प्रजत संबद्ध देि के
दतू ावास, संबद्ध देि से ज्ञात उत् पादकों/जियाातकों, ज्ञात आयातकों/प्रयोक्त ाओं तथा आवेदकों द्वारा उपलस ध कराए
गए पतों के अिुसार घरेल ू उद्योग और अन् य घरेल ू उत् पादकों को भेिी तथा उिस े जवजहत समय सीमा के भीतर
जलजखत मर अपि ेजवचारों से अवगत करािे का अिरु ोध दकया ।
7. प्राजधकारी ि े संबंजधत जियमावली के जियम 7(3) के अिुसार ज्ञात उत् पादकों/जियाातकों तथा भारत म र संबद्ध देि
के दतू ावास को आवेदि के अगोपिीय अिं की एक प्रजत प्रदाि की थी ।
8. भारत म र संबद्ध देि के दतू ावास से उिके देि के जियाातकों/उत् पादकों को जवजहत समय-सीमा के भीतर प्र्ि ावली
का उत् तर देि े की सलाह दिे े का अिरु ोध भी दकया गया था । उत् पादकों/जियाातकों को भेिे गए पत्र और प्र्ि ावली
की एक प्रजत संबद्ध दिे के ज्ञात उत् पादकों/जियाातकों के िामों और पतों के साथ दतू ावास को भी भेिी गई थी ।
9. प्राजधकारी िे ऐसी जवजभन् ि स्ट् कीमों/कायािमों के संबंध मर संगत तय /सूचिा मगं ािे के जलए सबं द्ध देि की सरकार
को प्र् िावजलयां भेिी थज जििसे सरकार द्वारा प्रजतसंतलु ि योग् य लाभ ददया िा सकता हो ।
10. िांच िुरूआत संबंधी अजधसूचिा और सूचिा के उत् तर म र तकु ी की सरकार, संबद्ध देिों स े जियाातकों/उत् पादकों
तथा आयातकों/प्रयोक्त ाओं ि े प्र् िावली का उत् तर देकर प्राजधकारी को िवाब ददया था ।
11. प्राजधकारी िे जियम 7(6) के अिुसार जहतबद्ध पक्षकारों को मौजखक रूप से सगं त सूचिा प्रस्ट्त ुत करि े हते ु अवसर
देिे के जलए 23.11.2020 को एक मौजखक सुिवाई आयोजित की थी ।
ग. घरेल ूउद्योग स ेप्राप्त अिरु ोध
12. याजचकाकताा िे अपि े पत्र के माध्यम से 21 ििवरी, 2021 को िाजमत प्राजधकरण को िई िांच अवजध के साथ
दफर से िमा करि े की स्ट्वतत्रं ता के साथ उिकी याजचका को वापस लेि े की बात कही ह ै और तदिुसार
जियमािुसार वतामाि िांच को समाि करिे का अिरु ोध दकया ह।ै
घ. प्राजधकारी द्वारा िाचं
13. घरेलू उद्योग द्वारा ददिांक 21 ििवरी, 2021 के उिके पत्र के माध् यम से दकए गए अिरु ोध की िांच की गई ह ै ।
प्राजधकारी िोट करत े ह ैंदक जियमावली के जियम 16(1)(क) का पाठ जिम्ि ािुसार ह ै:
‘’जिर्दष्ाट प्राजधकारी एक सावािजिक सूचिा िारी करके इसी िांच को तत्क ाल समाप् त कर दगर ेयदद- (क) उन् ह र
प्रभाजवत घरेल ूउद्योग जिसके कहिे पर िांच िुरू की गई थी, से या उिकी ओर से ऐसा करि ेके जलए जलजखत
अिुरोध प्राप् त होता ह’ै’[भाग I—खण् ड 1] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
14. यह िोट दकया िाता ह ै दक जियम 16 मर कजतपय जस्ट्थजतयों मर दकसी सजससडीरोधी िांच को समाप् त करिे का
प्रावधाि ह,ै जििमर ऐसी जस्ट्थजत िाजमल ह ै िहां प्रभाजवत घरेल ू उद्योग जिसके कहिे पर िांच िुरू की गई थी,
द्वारा आवेदि वापस ल े जलया िाता है। जियमवली के जियम 16(1) (क) मर प्रावधाि ह ै दक ‘’प्राजधकारी एक
सावािजिक सूचिा िारी करके इसी िांच को तत्क ाल समाप् त कर दगर े यदद- उन् ह र प्रभाजवत घरेलू उद्योग जिसके
कहिे पर िांच िरूु की गई थी, से या उिकी ओर से ऐसा करि े के जलए जलजखत अिुरोध प्राप् त होता ह’ै’
15. वतामाि िांच घरेलू उद्योग बिािे वाले मै. म.ै डीसीडस ल् यू जलजमटेड, मै. आरएसपीएल जलजमटेड और
मै. िीएचसीएल जलजमटेड द्वारा दायर आवेदि के आधार पर िरूु की गई थी । प्राजधकारी िोट करते ह ैं दक
जियमावली के जियम 16 (1) (क) म र प्राजधकारी के जलए घरेल ू उद्योग जिसके कहि े पर िांच िुरू की गई थी, से
िांच की समाजि हते ु जलजखत अिुरोध प्राप् त होिे पर िांच को समाप् त करिा अपेजक्षत ह ै।
ड. जिष्क ष ा
16. घरेलू उद्योग म.ै डीसीडस ल् य ू जलजमटेड, मै. आरएसपीएल जलजमटेड और म.ै िीएचसीएल जलजमटेड द्वारा दकए गए
पूवोक्त अिुरोध को ध् याि म र रखते ए ए और जियमावली के जियम 16(1)(क) के प्रावधािों के अंतगात प्राजधकारी
तुकी से सोडा ऐि के आयातों के जवरूद्ध अजधसूचिा स.ं 6/38/2019- डीिीटीआर ददिांक 2 माचा, 2020 के
माध् यम से िरूु की गई िांच को एतद्वारा समाप् त करत े ह ैं।
बी. बी. स्ट् विे , जविेष सजचव एवं जिर्दष्टा प्राजधकारी
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(Department of Commerce)
(DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF TRADE REMEDIES)
NOTIFICATION
TERMINATION
New Delhi, the 27th January, 2021
Subject : Termination of Countervailing Duty Investigation concerning imports of “Soda Ash”
originating in or exported from Turkey.
A. Introduction
F. No. 6/38/2019- DGTR.— 1. Having regard to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 as amended from
time to time (hereinafter also referred as the “Act”) and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and
Collection of Countervailing Duty on Subsidized Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995
(hereinafter also referred as the “Rules”), thereof, M/s. DCW Limited, M/s RSPL Limited and M/s GHCL
Limited (hereinafter also referred to as the “Applicant”) filed an application before the Designated Authority
(hereinafter also referred to as the “Authority”) for initiation of anti-subsidy investigation and imposition of
anti-subsidy duty on imports of “Soda Ash” (hereinafter referred as “product under consideration” or “subject
goods”) originating in or exported from Turkey (hereinafter referred as “subject country”).
2. The Authority, based on prima facie evidence submitted by the applicants, issued a public notice vide
notification No. 6/38/2019- DGTR dated 2nd March, 2020 published in the Gazette of India, initiating
the subject investigation in accordance with Rule 6 to determine existence, degree and effect of the
alleged subsidy and to recommend the amount of anti-subsidy/countervailing duty, which if levied,
would be adequate to remove the alleged injury to the domestic industry.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC.1]
B. Procedure
3. The Authority notified the Embassy of the subject country in India about the receipt of the present
anti-subsidy application before proceeding to initiate the investigation in accordance with
Sub-Rule (5) of Rule 6 supra.
4. The Authority invited the Government of Turkey for consultation with the aim of clarifying the
situation and arriving at a mutually agreed solution in accordance with Article 13 of the Agreement on
subsidies and countervailing measures. The consultation was held on 11th February, 2020 through
Digital Video Conferencing, which was attended by the representatives of the Government of Turkey.
5. The Authority issued a public notice dated 2nd March, 2020 published in the Gazette of India
Extraordinary, initiating countervailing duty/anti-subsidy investigation concerning imports of the
subject goods.
6. The Authority sent a copy of the initiation notification dated 2nd March 2020 to the Embassy of
subject country, known producers/exporters from subject country, known importers/users and the
domestic industry as well as other domestic producers as per the addresses made available by the
Applicants and requested them to make their views known in writing within the prescribed time limit.
7. The Authority provided a copy of the non-confidential version of the application to the known
producers/exporters and to the embassy of subject countries in India in accordance with Rule 7(3) of
the Rules supra.
8. The Embassy of subject country in India was also requested to advise the exporters/producers from
their country to respond to the questionnaire within the prescribed time limit. A copy of the letter and
questionnaire sent to the producers/exporters was also sent to them along with the names and
addresses of the known producers/exporters from the subject country.
9. The Authority sent questionnaires to the Government of the subject country in order to seek relevant
facts/information with regard to various schemes/programs where countervailable benefit might have
been conferred by the Government.
10. In response to the initiation notification and intimation, the Government of Turkey, exporters/
producers from subject countries and importers/users responded to the Authority by filing
Questionnaire Response.
11. The Authority held an oral hearing on 23.11.2020 to provide an opportunity to the interested parties to
present relevant information orally in accordance with Rule 7 (6).
C. Request Received from the Domestic Industry
12. The petitioner through their letter dated 21st January, 2021, to the Designated Authority has stated
withdrawal of their petition with the liberty to resubmit the same with new investigation period and
has accordingly requested termination of the present investigation as per Rules.
D. Examination by the Authority
13. The request made by the domestic industry, vide its letter dated 21st January, 2021 has been examined.
The Authority notes that Rule 16(1)(a) of the Rules reads as under:
The designated authority shall, by issue of a public notice terminate an investigation immediately if –
(a) it receives a request in writing for doing so from or on behalf of the domestic industry affected, at
whose instance the investigation was initiated;
14. It is noted that Rule 16 provides for termination of an anti-subsidy investigation in certain situations
which includes a situation where the application is withdrawn by the domestic industry affected, at
whose instance the investigation was initiated. Rule l6(1)(a) of Rules provides that the Authority
shall, by issue of a public notice, terminate an investigation if it receives a request in writing for doing
so from or on behalf of the domestic industry affected, at whose instance the investigation was
initiated.[भाग I—खण् ड 1] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
15. The present investigation was initiated based on an application filed by M/s DCW Limited,
M/s. RSPL Limited and M/s. GHCL Limited constituting the domestic industry. The Authority notes
that Rule 16 (1) (a) of the Rules requires the Authority to terminate the investigation, once the
domestic industry, at whose instance the investigation was initiated files a written request for
termination of the investigation.
E. Conclusion
16. In view of the aforesaid request made by the domestic industry, M/s DCW Limited, M/s RSPL
Limited and M/s. GHCL Limited and under the provisions of Rule l6 (1) (a) of the Rules, the
Authority hereby terminates the investigation initiated vide notification No. 6/38/2019-DGTR on
2nd March, 2020 against the imports of 'Soda Ash” from Turkey.
B. B. SWAIN, Spl. Secy. & Designated Authority
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