Article
Beyond borders: The challenge of transnational subsidies in global trade
Transnational subsidies refer to financial support provided by the government of a third country to companies established in the territory of another country (the exporting country) which may cause economic harm to the industries in the importing country. As the WTO member countries grapple with the challenge to counter these subsidies within the framework of the present Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (‘SCM Agreement’), the article in this issue of International Trade Amicus analyses some important developments on this front. The first section of the article focuses on discussing the present framework of the SCM Agreement, the second section focuses on developments in the EU and the USA, and finally the third section discusses the way forward for India. According to the author (Abhishek Tripathi), it may augur well for India to issue a guidance on the way forward on this front so that the trade and relevant authorities can handle such cases.
Trade News Remedy
- Acrylic solid surfaces from China PR and Japan – India’s DGTR recommends anti-dumping duty on goods from China PR
- Carbazole violet pigment 23 from India – USA initiates anti-dumping and countervailing duty administrative reviews
- Corrosion-resistant steel sheet from India – Canada issues notice of initiation of expiry review investigation
- Cypermethrin from India – China PR issues preliminary ruling on anti-dumping investigation
- Finished carbon steel flanges from India – USA issues affirmative anti-dumping duty administrative review; 2022– 2023
- Glycine from India – USA continues with anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty
- Hard Empty Capsules from India – USA postpones preliminary determination in countervailing duty investigation
- Nylon filament yarn from China PR and Vietnam – India’s DGTR issues corrigendum to initiation notification for anti-dumping investigation
- Oil country tubular goods – USA rescinds CVD administrative review for period 1 January 2023 till 31 December 2023
- Oil country tubular goods from India – Canada issues notice of conclusion of reinvestigation for anti-dumping duty
- Overhead door counterbalance torsion springs from India – USA postpones preliminary determination in countervailing duty investigation
- Para nitrotoluene from European Union – India terminates anti-dumping investigation
- Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) paste resin from European Union and Japan – India initiates anti-dumping investigation
- Roller chains from China PR – India’s DGTR recommends imposition of anti-dumping duty
- Welded carbon steel standard pipes and tubes from India – USA rescinds ADD administrative review for period 1 May 2023 till 30 April 2024
- Welded stainless steel pressure pipe from India – USA rescinds CVD administrative review for period 1 January 2023 till 31 December 2023
WTO News
- China initiates dispute complaint against USA for new additional 10% tariff measures
- EU disputes Chinese patent licensing measures
- EU’s measures on Palm Oil and Oil Palm crop-based biofuels found to partially violate certain provisions of TBT Agreement
- South Africa initiates safeguard investigation on corrosion-resistant steel coil
India Customs & Trade Policy Update
- Union Budget 2025 – Changes made/proposed in Customs law and duty rates
- Synthetic or reconstructed diamonds – Mandatory additional qualifiers in import/export declarations relaxed for certain goods
- De-oiled rice bran – Export prohibited till 30 September 2025
- Vessels under ITC(HS) Code 8906 90 are now freely importable
- Glufosinate and its salts of CIF value below INR 1289/kg – Import policy relaxed to ‘restricted’ from ‘prohibited’; MIP condition extended
- Diamond Imprest Authorisation scheme to be implemented from 1 April 2025
- Tur/Pigeon Peas – Import to be ‘Free’ till 31 March 2026
- Synthetic Knitted Fabrics – Minimum Import Price condition extended till 31 March 2025
- SCOMET – Guidelines issued for voluntary disclosure of failure to comply with the Regulations
FTA News
- India and Oman decide to expedite trade pact talks – Sign protocol to amend tax treaty
- America First Trade Policy – India examines US Trade memo for bilateral trade deal
- India-EU free trade agreement talks may get delayed due to elections in EU member states – CBAM, deforestation regulation, etc., remain major hurdles
Ratio decidendi
- Communication modules/network interface cards, which are essential parts of communication hubs which in turn are parts of smart meters, are classifiable under Customs Tariff Item 8517 70 90 and not under TI 9028 90 10/ 9028 90 90 – CESTAT New Delhi
- Exemption – Condition of specific use after import does not mean ‘actual user’ condition – CESTAT New Delhi
- Exemption to WAP products using MIMO technology – Word ‘and’ in Sl. No. 13(iv) in Notification No. 24/2005-Cus. is to be read disjunctively – Delhi High Court
