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Bangladesh has asked India not to impose anti-dumping duty on jute goods export for another five years after the existing duty expires in December 2022.
The commerce ministry made the recommendation to India’s finance ministry after holding discussions on the issue on October 25, according to people familiar with the matter.
The commerce ministry made the request weeks after an extension of the duty was recommended by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) of India to its finance ministry earlier last month.
Speaking about Bangladesh’s request, Md Hafizur Rahman, director general of the WTO Cell of the commerce ministry, said, “We have tried to have the anti-dumping duty imposed by India on jute products withdrawn. They have been requested not to extend it further after it expires in December 2022.”
He said both the foreign and the commerce ministries have held discussions with the Indian government on the issue. But so far there has been no positive response from the other side.
In January 2017, India imposed anti-dumping duties ranging from $19 to $352 per tonne jute exports from Bangladesh for five years. The country started a review on keeping the duty for a while longer since January this year, even with one year to go before the duty expires.
India’s DRTR, in a letter to Bangladesh’s commerce ministry, said as a result of the anti-dumping duty on jute goods export, Bangladesh increased cash subsidy to exporters from 7.5% to 10% in 2017.
DGTR said if the duty is not extended, it will have a negative impact on India’s jute industry.
The letter further said, “Considering the facts and circumstances, the authority deems it appropriate to recommend extending the anti-dumping duty on imports of jute products from companies in designated countries.
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh Jute Goods Exporter Association, said if the anti-dumping duty is extended, it will have a negative impact on Bangladesh’s jute and jute products exports to India.
