To protect from tariff war ministries spar over duties on imported steel

摘要

A spat has broken out between the steel and commerce ministries over duties slapped on imported steel. The steel ministry favours raising the basic customs duty to protect Indian steel-makers from possible dumping by Chinese steel giants who have been locked out of the US in a tariff war that has erupted between the two economic giants. However, the commerce ministry, which wants to protect the interests of the engineering industry and auto parts manufacturers, wants imported steel to be taxed at current rates as these user industries have complained that Indian steel-makers have raised prices, making them uncompetitive globally. To try and settle the row, the commerce ministry has set up a committee to look into the issue of pricing and report back to it.