12% temporary duty will be imposed on cheap steel imports from China and other countries

New Delhi New Delhi: The Indian government is set to impose a 12% temporary tariff (safeguard duty) on steel imports soon. The move is being taken to stop the flood of cheap steel from countries like China, South Korea and Japan. India has imported net finished steel for the second consecutive year in the year 2024-25, with total imports reaching 9.5 million metric tons.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce, had recommended imposing a 12% duty for 200 days after an investigation in December 2023. The Finance Ministry will take a final decision on this. Cheap imports of steel products have forced small steel mills to consider reducing production and cutting jobs.

Steel industry organizations such as JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL and ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel India have demanded import control from the government.