Jute Product originating in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal
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To be published in Part - 1 Section 1 of the Gazette of India Extraordinary
F. No. 7/09/2021-DGTR Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of Commerce Directorate General of Trade Remedies 4th Floor, Jeevan Tara Building, 5, Parliament Street, New Delhi -110001
Dated: 30th September 2022
NOTIFICATION
FINAL FINDINGS Case No. (SSR) 9/2021
Subject: Sunset Review Investigation concerning imports of "Jute Products" originating
in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal.
F. No. 7/09/2021-DGTR - Having regard to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred as the “Act”) and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti-dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995 thereof, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred as the “AD Rules”);
A. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
a. The Original Investigation
- The original investigation concerning imports of the subject goods from Bangladesh and Nepal was initiated by the Authority vide Notification No. 14/19/2015-DGAD, dated 21.10.2015. Definitive anti-dumping duties were recommended vide Notification No. 14/19/2015-DGAD, dated 20.10.2016 and was imposed vide Customs Notification No. 01/2017-Customs (ADD), dated 05.01.2017, and amended further by Customs Notification No. 11/2017-Customs (ADD), dated 03.04.2017. Subsequently, an anti-circumvention investigation was initiated vide Notification No. 7/3/2018-DGAD, dated 20.03.2018 concerning imports of 'jute sacking cloth', (a penultimate stage of "Jute Sacking Bag") from Bangladesh. The Authority vide Notification No. 7/3/2018-DGAD, dated 19.03.2019 recommended extension of the existing anti-dumping duty imposed on sacking bags vide the above notifications, and was imposed vide Customs Notification No. 24/2019-Customs (ADD), dated 18.06.2019.
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b. Present Sunset Review Investigation
2. Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) (hereinafter referred to as the “applicant” or the
“applicant association”) filed a duly substantiated application before the Authority, on behalf
of the domestic industry, in accordance with Section 9A (5) of the Act read with Rule 23 of
the Rules. After prima facie examination of the facts, the Authority initiated a Sunset Review
(SSR) investigation vide Notification No. 7/9/2021-DGTR dated 28th June 2021 to review the
need for continued imposition of the duties in force in respect of the subject goods, originating
in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal.
B. PROCEDURE
3. The procedure described below has been followed with regards to the investigation.
i. The Authority, issued a public notice dated 28th June 2021 published in the Gazette
of India Extraordinary, initiating a sunset review investigation concerning imports of
the subject goods from the subject countries.
ii. The Authority forwarded a copy of the public notice along with the questionnaires to
the Embassies of the subject countries in India, all known exporters, importers and
industry associations (whose details were made available by the applicant) and gave
them the opportunity to make their views known in writing in accordance with Rule
6(2) of the AD Rules. They were advised to reply within thirty days from the date of
publication of the notification or from the date of letters.
iii. The Authority provided a copy of the non-confidential version of the application to
the known exporters and the Embassies of the subject countries in accordance with
Rule 6(3) of the AD Rules. A copy of the application was also provided to the other
interested parties, as requested.
iv. The Authority sent questionnaires to elicit relevant information to the following
known producers/exporters in the subject countries in accordance with Rule 6(4) of
the AD Rules:
List of exporters and manufacturers from Bangladesh
Corofin Jutex Corporation
Karim Jute Spinners Ltd.
Mitual Jute Spinners Ltd.
Nowapara Jute Mills Ltd.
Sadat Jute Industries Ltd.
Shamsher Jute Mills Ltd.
Shinepukur Holdings Ltd.
World Trading Corporation
Abir International
Atmmr Enterprise
Alam Trade International
Alif Ianernational
Aliss International
Amanat International
Anss Corporation (Pvt) Ltd
ABC Agency
ACME Trade International
Anika Overseas Discovery Service
Arkay & Kayar Associates
Asimpex Trading Corp. Ltd
Amin Jute Products
Bengal Braided Rugs Ltd.
Bengulf Trading Co. Ltd
Bengulf Trading Co. Ltd
Bonny International Ltd
Bengal Jute & Burlap Agencies
Bag & Burlap International Ltd
BBI Jute & Product Export Ltd
Banglar Annsh (Pvt) Ltd
B.N. Trading
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Bangladesh Allied Business Asso.
Bankor International Corporation
Bangladesh Jute Processing Co.
Beiico International Ltd.
Bhuiyan Int’l Corp
Burlap World Ltd.
Bizline Corporate Ltd.
Bulk Trade International
Brothers International
Bangladesh International Trade
B.desh Jute Diversification Center
Beheshti Export & Import
Bangladesh Export Limited
CDR Trade International
Commimpex
Confident Jute & Bag Ltd.
Concrete Fibres International
Consolidated Commodities
Creation (Pvt) Ltd
Crifoo Intertrade Ltd.
Corr-The Jute Works
Corofin Jutex Corporation
Cosmotic
Continental Trade Exchange Ltd.
Dubai Jute & Bag Corporation
Dipali Agncies
Delca Bangladesh Ltd
Desh Bidesh Enterprise
Dawan Export International
Dewan Trade International
Eastern Trade International
Erans Trade International Ltd.
Ecotrade International
Ecotrade International
East Asian Business Associates
Exim N. Trade
Erab Limited
Esses Exporters Ltd.
Enam & Sons
Eehamm International Ltd.
Edge Trading
Extra Pace Logistics Ltd
Enam Express Limited
Early Bird Corporation
Eshan Jute Products
Faisal Trading Co.
Farhan Style Limited
Fibres International Ltd.
Food Grade Jute Traders
Faimex Trade International
Fibre Deals Limited
Fair Trading Company
Fatima Alyaf Tala-e-Jute Inds Ltd
Gem Jute Limited
Global Jute Goods
Globe Solidarity Ltd.
Golden Jute Diversification Center
Ltd.
Global Jute Trading Ltd.
H.F Exporters
Hamona Tradig Corporation
Hossain Jute Trading Co.
Hanif Impex International
HN Enterprise
International Trade Exchange
International Burlap Supplier
Indus Enterprise
Immense Trading House
Jute & Bags Export Corporation
Jute Expo Trading Ltd.
Jute Heaven
Jute Export Corporation
Jutex Bangladesh
Jainex International
Jutex International
Jahan Trader
Jahan International Trading Co.
Jute Mate Packeging Co.
Jute Export Trading Corporation
JBL International
Jupiter Jute Leather Corporation
Jahan Enterprise
Kiron Enterprise
Knaf International
Kingshuk Limited
Khan Sons Interl (BD) Ltd.
Lupa International
Lotus International
Louis Dreyfus Co. Ltd.
Lipton Jute Trade International
Metropolitan Export Corp
Monami International Ltd.
M.F International
Mask Associate (Pvt) Ltd.
Maico Jute Bag Corporation
Meem International
Monir Trading Corporation
Mowlik Trade & Services Ltd.
Mohajan Trade International
M.R. Associates
M. Rahman & Co.
M.H. Trading
Mikuni Corporation
Mawada Traders
Mart Overseas Ltd.
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Monosur & Brothers
Mee Trading Corporation
Modern Import & Export
M.M International
Neptune Enterprise
Nature Fibre Services Ltd.
Narsingdi Jute Traders
Natural Jute Products
New Agencies
Neety Enterprise
Orient Trade International
Omega Fashion Limited
Online Limited
Passco Jute
Prime Enterprise
Rainbow Associates
Relible Trade International
Rean Trade International
Rush Export International Ltd.
Rose Corner (Pvt) Ltd.
Riimex Enterprise
R.E.B Agencies
Rafique Trade International
Raj Fibre Ltd
Seatex International
Swift Trade Impex
Shathi Export International Ltd.
Shams Trade International Ltd.
Sami Enterprise
Sealand Export International
SWS Trade Lines (Pvt.) Ltd.
Sagorika International
Sonali Ansh Trading (Pvt) Ltd.
Shyamol Bangla Jutex Ltd.
Sonali Fibres Trading Co.
Sea-Rock Consortiam
Sonargaon Fibres
Sonjes International
SMSN Trade International
Said Enterprise
Skyland & Fam Ltd.
Saddat Trading Co. Ltd.
Samser Enterprise
Shutdeepta Trade Co.
Sadia Jute Trading
Sahrifpur Trading Agencey
Sutapa Impex
Sacks Export & Trading Intel.
S. Islam & Sons
S.S Engineering Works
S.S Enterprise
The Globe Traders
Takawa Mah Enterprise Ltd.
The Golden Fibre Trade Center Ltd.
Trade International
Taurus Limited
Trade Impex
Tamara Trading Agencies Ltd.
Uni Exim
Ujala Trading Corporation
Victory Enterprise Ltd.
Vicar International
Varity Jute Trading Co.
Vertex International Ltd.
William Agencies
Wizard Incorporation
Yakub Ali (Faridpur) Ltd.
A.R.A Jute Mills Ltd.
ABC Agency
Ahad Jute Mills Ltd.
Akil Jute Mills Ltd.
Al-Haj Aminuddin Jute Mills Ltd.
Alijan Jute Mills Ltd.
Anwar Jute Spinning Mills Limited
Aziz Fibres Ltd.
B.S. Jute Spinners Ltd.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation
Bengal Jute Industries Ltd.
Charmuguria Jute Mills Ltd.
Chittagong Jute Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Corofin Jutex Corporation
Creative International
Faridpur Jute Fibres Ltd.
Fatima Alyaf Tala-E Jute Inds. Ltd.
Ferdaus Jute Mills Ltd.
Islam Khan Jute Mills Ltd.
Janata Jute Mills Ltd.
Jute Spinners Ltd.
Karim Jute Spinners Ltd.
Keraniganj Jute Fibres Ltd.
Lytton Jute Mills Limited
Metropolitan Exports Corporation
Mutual Jute Spinners Ltd.
Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (BD)
Ltd.
New Dacca Industries Limited
Nissan Jute Mills Limited
Northern Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Nowapara Jute Mills Ltd.
Patuakhali Jute Mills Ltd.
Popular Jute Mills Ltd.
Sadat Jute Industries Limited
Saddat Trading Co. Ltd.
Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Limited
Sarwar Jute Mills Ltd.
Sayeed Jute Spinning Ltd.
Shamsher Jute Mills Ltd.
Sharif Jute Mills Ltd.
Shihab Jute Spinners Ltd.
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Shinepukur Holding Limited
Shyamol Bangla Jutex Ltd.
Sidlaw Textile (Bangladesh) Ltd.
Sonali Ansh Industries Ltd.
Specialised Jute Yarn & Twine Mfg.
Co. Ltd.
Supreme Jute and Knitex Limited
Transocean Fibres Processors (BD)
Ltd.
Usha Jute Spinners Ltd.
Victory Jute Products Ltd.
Word Trading Corporation
List of exporters and manufacturers of Nepal
Ambika,
Trans Trade Service
Asahi Overseas Traders
General overseas Agency
Ashok Trading Concern
Ghorashyar Enterprises
Atlantic Trading Concern
Golchha Organization
B.K. International
Greentex Enterprises
Baba Enterprises
Gupta Enterprises
Balaju Enterprises
Him International (P) Ltd.
Bhudeo Khadya Udogy
Indra Trade Concern
Bijaya Enterprises
Jalnex Enterprises
Sangam International Enterprises
Binit Enterprises
Khatu International
Brighter Industries(P) Ltd.
Laxmi Concern
Chhagan Mall Traders
Madam Lal Chiranjibi Lal Chhyangle
Trade Links
Mahesh Overseas Enterprises
Diamond Nepal Enterprises
Nepal United Company (P) Ltd.
Digo International (P) ltd.
New Trade Centre
Dugar Brothers & Sons.
Paban Overseas Concern
Dugar Organization
R & R Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Exportex Trading
Rajshree Enterprises
Gaurav Impex
v. Following producers/exporters from the subject countries have filed the exporter’s questionnaire response or made any submissions:
Mirza Jute Mills Ltd.
Hasan Jute & Spinning Mills Ltd.
Gem Jute Mill
Hasen Jute Industries Limited
Afzal Fibre Processing Industries
Janata Jute Mills Limited
Anam Jute Products Ltd.
Sadat Jute Industries Ltd
Asha Jute Industries Ltd.
A.M Jute Industries Limited
Usha Jute Spinners Limited
Arihant Multi-Fibres Limited
Bogra Jute Mills Limited
Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd
Bonanza
Jute
Composite
&
Diverse Factory Ltd.
Baba Jute Mills
Mouna Jute Mills Limited
Swastik Jute mills Pvt. Ltd
Erans Trade International Ltd
Nepal Jute industries Pvt.Ltd.
Ecotrade International
Alijan Jute Mills Limited
Jamuna Jute Industries Ltd
Glory Jute Limited
Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd.
Madina Jute Industries Limited
Joy Jute Mills Limited
Mazeda Jute Industries Limited
Jute Textile Mills Limited
Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills
Nawhata Jute mills Ltd.
(Bd)Limited
Golden Jute Industries Limited
Reliance Jute Mills Ltd.
Pride jute Mills Limited
Salim Agro Industries Limited
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Rabeya Jute Mills
Sham sher Jute Mills Limited
Rajbari Jute Mills Limited
Sonali Aansh Industries Limited
Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd
Wahab Jute Mills
Sidlaw Textiles Limited
Ranu Agro Industries Ltd.
Oriental Jute Mills Limited
Akij Jute Mills Ltd.
Hasan jute mills ltd
Arnu Jute Mills Ltd.
vi. Considering the number of responding exporters/producers from the subject countries, the Authority had undertaken sampling. Accordingly, vide notification dated 14th January 2022, the Authority published the final list of sampled and non- sampled exporters, provided below:
Sampled Non-sampled Hasan Jute Mills Limited Mirza Jute Mills Ltd. Hasan Jute Spinning Mills Limited Gem Jute Mill Alijan Jute Mills Limited Afzal Fibre Processing Industries Arnu Jute Mills Limited, Bangladesh Anam Jute Products Ltd. A.M. Jute Industries Limited Asha Jute Industries Ltd. Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. Usha Jute Spinners Limited Sidlaw Textiles Ltd. Bonanza Jute Composite & Diverse Factory Ltd. Oriental Jute Mills Jamuna Jute Industries Ltd Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (Bangladesh) Limited Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd Joy Jute Mills Limited Rabeya Jute Mill Jute Textile Mills Limited Bogra Jute Mills Ltd Golden Jute Industries Limited Ranu Agro Industries Limited, Bangladesh Pride jute Mills Limited Sonali Aansh Industries Limited. Rajbari Jute Mills Limited Mouna Jute Mills Ltd Hasen Jute Industries Limited Erans Trade International Ltd Janata Jute Mills Limited Ecotrade International Sadat Jute Industries Ltd. Arihant Multi-Fibres Ltd Baba Jute Mills Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. Swastik Jute mills Pvt. Ltd Nepal Jute Industries Pvt. Ltd. Glory Jute Limited Madina Jute Industries Limited Mazeda Jute Industries Limited Reliance Jute Mills Ltd. Salim Agro Industries Limited Shamsher Jute Mills Limited Wahab Jute Mills Akij Jute Mills Ltd. Lovely Jute Mills Ltd. Nowapara Jute Mills Ltd. Nowapara Packaging Industries Ltd.
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Bangla Pat Diversified Mills Limited
vii. Questionnaires were also sent to the following known importers, users and the associations of the subject goods in India seeking necessary information in accordance with Rule 6(4) of the AD Rules:
Ahmed Exports
Alamim Enterprise
Ashim Kar & Industries P. Ltd.
B.G. Udyog
Bengal Jute & Bag Co.
Bhagtara Jute Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Birla Corporation Ltd.
Chamundi Explosives Pvt. Ltd.
Cheviot Company
Chiranjilal Gaurishanker & Company
Clifton Business Pvt. Ltd.
G.N. Commercial Company
Gaba Overseas Pvt. Ltd.
Gyaniram Agarwal & Company
Industrial Associates
Industrial Associates Jute Pvt. Ltd.
J.J. Patel and Brothers
J.K Sons & Company
J.K Sons Jute Company Pvt. Ltd.
K.L Jute Products Pvt. Ltd.
Knap International
Kosmic Hitech Motors Pvt. Ltd.
Mohan Jute Ltd.
Navin International
Pacific Jute Ltd.
Privi Exports Pvt. Ltd.
R. Harilal & Company (Calcutta)
Ramsaran & Sons
Romy Enterprises
Sarvamangla Pratishthan
Satyam Impex
Satyendra Packaging Pvt. Ltd.
SDJ International
Srijoni Impex
Tuhin Kanz & Co.
Unnati Overseas
Veer International
Vishwatma Commercial Pvt. Ltd.
Yucon Overseas Pvt. Ltd.
Eskay International
Golder Floor
Grover International
Radha Krishna
Rugs Creation
Caledonian
Nav Durga
Kailash Chand
viii. Only one importer i.e. J.K Sons Jute Co. Private Ltd., has filed the importer’s questionnaire response. ix. Additionally, submissions were received from the Jute Product Importer Association, the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association, and the Nepal Jute Traders Association of India. These submissions have been addressed by the Authority to the extent found relevant and necessary. x. The Authority also received submissions from the Government of Bangladesh which had also participated in the oral hearing. xi. Accordingly, the Authority issued the final list of interested parties on 14th December, 2021 in this investigation. xii. The information provided by the interested parties on confidential basis was examined with regard to the sufficiency of such claims. On being satisfied, the Authority has accepted the confidentiality claims, wherever warranted and such information has been considered confidential and not disclosed to the other interested parties. Wherever possible, parties providing information on confidential basis were
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directed to provide sufficient non-confidential version of the information filed on
confidential basis.
xiii. Further information was sought from the applicant to the extent deemed necessary.
xiv. Desk verification of the domestic industry was conducted to the extent considered
necessary for the purpose of the present investigations.
xv. The non-injurious price (hereinafter referred to as ‘NIP’) based on the cost of
production and the cost to make and sell the subject goods in India based on the
information furnished by the domestic industry on the basis of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP) and has been worked out so as to ascertain whether
the present anti-dumping duty is sufficient to remove injury to the domestic industry.
xvi. The period of investigation for the purpose of the present review is 1st April 2020 to
30th March 2021 (12 months) (hereinafter referred to as the “period of investigation”
or “POI”). The injury analysis period includes the period of investigation and the
preceding three years, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
xvii. In accordance with Rule 6(6) of the AD Rules, the Authority provided opportunity to
the interested parties to present their views during the oral hearing held on 9th
February 2022. The interested parties were requested to submit their written
submissions and rejoinder submissions latest by 14th February, 2022 and 18th
February 2022 respectively.
xviii.
Existing anti-dumping duties have been extended thrice vide the following
notifications of the Ministry of Finance (a) Notification No. 10/2022-Customs
(ADD) dated 24th February 2022, duties extended upto 30th June 2022 (b)
Notification No. 11/2022-Customs (ADD) dated 31st March 2022, duties extended
upto 31st August 2022, (c) Notification No. 18/2022-Customs (ADD) dated 31st May
2022, duties extended upto 30th November 2022.
xix. Wherever an interested party has refused access to or has otherwise not provided
necessary information during the course of the present investigation, or has
significantly impeded the investigation, the Authority has recorded its observation on
the basis of the facts available.
xx. In accordance with Rule 16 of the AD Rules, 1995 the essential facts of the
investigation were disclosed to the interested parties vide disclosure statement dated
18th August 2022 and comments received thereon, considered relevant by the
Authority have been addressed in the final findings. The Authority notes that most of
the post disclosure comments made by the interested parties are mere reiterations of
the earlier submissions. However, the post disclosure submissions to the extent
considered relevant are being examined in these final findings.
xxi. *** in this final finding represents information furnished by an interested party on
confidential basis, and so considered by the Authority under the Rules.
xxii. Exchange rate considered for the POI for conversion of USD to Indian Rupees is 1
USD = Rs. 75.19.
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C. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND LIKE ARTICLE
C.1 Views of the domestic industry
4. The domestic industry has made the following submission with regard to the scope of the
product under consideration and like article:
i.
The product under consideration is “jute products” comprising of jute yarn/twine
(multiple folded/cabled and single), hessian fabrics, jute sacking cloth and jute
sacking bags.”
ii. Jute products are primarily used in packaging; geotextiles - landfill covering,
embankment reinforcement; protection of rooting plants; hessian cloths of various
types; braids and webbing; fine and coarse yarns; bailing and bundle cloths;
wrapping; bedding foundation; boot and shoe linings; tailors back packing; fuse
yarns; hand bags and all types of stiff bags; aprons of all types; iron, steel, tube
and rod wrapping; canal linings; mail bags; motor linings; needle felts; roofing
felts; rope; covering fabrics; tyre wrapping; upholstery foundation; strings of all
types.
iii. The product under consideration remains the same as it was in the original
investigation and subsequently the existing duties on ‘jute sacking bag’ were
extended to ‘jute sacking cloth’ from Bangladesh and the same is also included in
the product scope of the current investigation. Jute sacking cloth from Nepal is
outside the purview of the current investigation.
iv. According to the Hon’ble CESTAT order in M/s Anwar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd.
& Ors v. Union of India1, it was explicitly held that the three different types of
jute products i.e., yarn, fabric, and bag were to be considered as one product and
that it is not tenable to have separate investigation for the different types.
v. The interested parties have submitted that the anti-circumvention findings were
issued in 2019 and the present POI has no impact of circumvention at all, and that
the anti-circumvention measures were pursued to cover up the applicant’s poor
definition of the PUC. It was further argued that the scope of the PUC should not
be extended to product types covered under circumvention duty findings, and
should be reviewed under Rule 28. With respect to these contentions the following
is submitted:
a. The other parties seem to agree that the circumvented product was rightly
included, and that they misused/abused the exemption. Once the duties were
were extended, the imports stopped and imports re-started from the companies
which were exempted.
b. Circumvention of duties of sacking bag is an established act of circumvention
of an anti-dumping measure in place. These practices undertaken by the
producers/exporters in any investigation, displays their aggressive, unfair,
unethical nature and a desperate need to maintain their presence in the Indian
market. Circumvention as a ground for extension of duties in a sunset review
was also considered and accepted by the Ministry of Finance in “Axles for
1 Anti Dumping Appeals No. 50696-50701 of 2017.
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Trailers from China”2. The Ministry of Finance’s notifications published in anti-circumvention investigations state that duties shall be co-terminus with original duties imposed on the PUC and circumvention duties shall only terminate should original duties be terminated. c. Review of circumvention as provided in Rule 28 is similar to new-shipper reviews, wherein any party for reasons such as claiming exemption on the grounds of being new producer, or has evidence that circumvention is not occurring anymore, has sought review. d. Once circumvention of existing anti-dumping duty has been established, it has been proven, that the subject goods via a country or in a certain form are actually the subject goods from the original country of investigation. Therefore, expiry review of original measures entails automatic review and consequent extension of duty on circumvented goods as well. European Commission has also followed the same practice in sunset review investigations of bicycles originating in China PR, crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and key components originating in China PR, solar panels etc. that were conducted after circumvention investigation and the original duties were extended to the circumvented product along with the original product under investigation.
C.2 Views of the other interested parties
5. Following submissions have been made by the other interested parties with regard to the
product under consideration and the like article:
i.
The initiation says that the scope of the PUC in the present matter covers the PUC as
originally defined and also those categories (jute sacking cloth) which were covered
in the anti-circumvention investigation. This is a departure from the consistent
practices of the Authority.
ii.
The Ministry of Finance Notification No. 24/2019-Customs (ADD) dated 18.6.2019
states that the anti-dumping duty imposed under the said notification shall be co-
terminus with the antidumping duty on jute sacking bags. Further, Rule 28 (1) of the
AD Rules stipulates that the Designated Authority may review the need for the
continued imposition of the duty, where warranted, on its own initiative or provided
that a reasonable period of time has elapsed since the imposition of the measures, upon
request by any interested party which submits positive information substantiating the
need for the review.
iii.
The AD Rules now provide for a separate review of circumvention measures. In view
of the above, it is requested that the Authority may restrict the scope of the PUC in the
present investigation to the PUC as originally defined and should not cover the
products covered by the Ministry of Finance Notification No. 24/2019-Customs
(ADD) dated 18.6.2019.
2 Final Findings in Sunset Review investigation of anti-dumping duties concerning imports of ‘axle for trailers’ originating in or exported from China PR dated 27th October 2021 (F.No. 7/7/2021).
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iv.
Any review of the anti-circumvention duty should be carried out as per Rule 28 of the
AD Rules and not in the manner proposed in the initiation notification of the present
investigation.
v.
Regarding the submission that sacking cloth is not part of the PUC for Nepal, the
Authority should clarify if the PUC is not identical for both the subject countries, then
how the conditions mentioned under paragraph 3 of Annexure II of the AD Rules are
met with.
vi.
There cannot be two different sets of the PUC for the subject countries. The case of
Anwar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. and Ors.3 has no contextual applicability on the
present case as it is not about the inter se likeness of the product but rather the scope
of the PUC.
vii.
The initiation notice dated 28.06.2021 suggests that the PUC includes sacking cloth
for both Bangladesh and Nepal. Since anti-circumvention investigation against
imports of sacking cloth was initiated and carried out only against Bangladesh, sacking
cloth must not be included insofar as producers and exporters of Nepal are concerned.
There was never any allegation regarding circumvention of anti-dumping duty
imposed on sacking bags by Nepal, nor was Nepal a part of the said anti-circumvention
investigation. As sacking cloth was never included into the scope of the PUC insofar
as Nepal was concerned, Nepal must not be subjected to examination of dumping of
the same.
viii.
With respect to five grades/ qualities/ batches considered by Authority for
comparison of jute yarn/twine exported from the subject countries, Respondents
who produce and export the PUC from Nepal export a grade/ quality of jute twine
which does not fall within any of the five grades/ qualities/ batches viz. (1)
Sacking, (2) Hessian (3) CB, (4) CRT/CRX, or (5) CRM.
ix.
Rather, the jute twine exported by respondents from Nepal is different as it is used
only for sewing the mouths of jute bags and such jute twine is unsuitable for being
consumed in either sacking bag or cloth, hessian products, CB, CRT/CRX, or
CRM and therefore, do not fall within the abovesaid five grades/ qualities/ batches
of PCN proposed by the Authority. Therefore, information has been filed under a
separate PCN for the specific grade/ quality/batch exported to India with ‘0E’ as
the PCN code as none of the codes suggested by the DGTR were suitable for the
product exported by the respondents.
x.
Regarding the submission of the petitioners that the three types of products should
be regarded as one, it is submitted that while the investigation may be in respect
of one single product, the dumping margin and injury analysis should be done for
each product separately. The Authority had adopted the same approach in the
original investigation.4
3 Supra note 1. 4 “127(i) The PUC in initiation is considered as jute products comprising of Jute Yarn/Twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), Hessian fabric, and Jute sacking bags from Bangladesh and Nepal. Though these product types are interrelated but are differentiated in terms of production and end usage with different custom headings. It is clarified that the authority has treated the three products as different articles. The Authority has assessed the dumping margin and injury margin for the 3 product types separately and recommends levy of Anti-dumping measures separately for
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C.3 Examination by the Authority
6. The present investigation is a sunset review investigation concerning anti-dumping duties
imposed on imports of “jute products” originating in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal.
Hence, the PUC in the present investigation is also “jute products” originating in or exported
from Bangladesh and Nepal. The product under investigation as defined in the original
investigation is as follows:
“26. The product under consideration in the present investigation is “Jute Products”
comprising of Jute Yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), Hessian Fabrics
and Jute Sacking bags. At the time of initiation, the classification was considered
under Chapter 53 and 63 of the 1975 Act and further sub-classified under custom
heads 5307, 5310 and 6305. It was stated that the said customs classification is
however only indicative and is in no way binding on the scope of the present
investigation. However, it is later noted from the data filed by producers/exporters
from Nepal that the exports of yarn/twine have also been made by exporters/
producers of the product from Nepal under Custom heading no. 5607, which covers
Twine, Cordage, Ropes and Cables whether or not Plaited or Braided and whether
or not impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed with rubber and plastics.
-
The Authority notes that Jute is a natural and an eco-friendly fiber, which comes from the inner bark of plants. The broad usages of jute include packaging, geo- textiles, protection of rooting plants, making of cloths, bags, wrapping, boot and shoe lining, fuse yarns, aprons, canal and motor linings, ropes, strings, upholstery foundation, curtains and furnishing fabrics etc. Further, Jute can also be mixed with wool for fine yarn and fabric production.
-
Raw jute in the form of bales is processed in jute mills to produce products like jute yarn/twine, hessian fabric, sacking bags, and other products. The manufacturing process of Jute entails different stages such as selection of jute for a batch, piecing up, softening and lubricating, conditioning or piling, breaker carding, finisher carding, first drawing, second drawing, third drawing and spinning”
-
The subject goods are classified under Chapter 53 and 63 of the Customs Tariff Act and have been further sub-classified under custom heading 53101013, 63051040, 53101012 53071010 and 53072000. The said customs classification is, however, only indicative and is in no way binding on the scope of the present investigation. Further, this being a sunset review investigation, the scope of the PUC remains the same as it was in the original investigation.
-
The Authority notes that the subject goods are being imported in the form of jute yarn/twine, hessian fabric and sacking bags. The Authority had proposed Product Control Numbers (PCNs) for jute yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and single) in order to make an apple-to-
these 3 product types. As regards Jute Yarn from Nepal, the Authority notes that the same was not excluded from the PUC in initiation and having noted the quantum of imports through the exporter’s questionnaire and confirmation of imports by DGCIS, has included the same for consideration of measures as per AD Rules. In this regard it is further reiterated that the investigation on dumping assessment has been done separately for the three product types taking into account volume and price of such goods as verified during the investigation.”
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apple comparison. No PCNs were adopted for sacking bag and hessian fabric. Considering the parameters that impact the associated costs and prices of the product, and after taking into account the submissions made, the Authority adopted the following PCN methodology for jute yarn/twine5: 1st Digit for Grade/Quality/Batch Grade/Quality/ Batch 2nd Digit for Count Count
1
Sacking
A
Upto 14 LBS
B
More than 14 LBS and upto 20 LBS
C
More than 20 LBS and upto 24 LBS
D
More than 24 LBS and upto 28 LBS
E
More than 28 LBS
2
Hessian
A
Upto 8 LBS
B
More than 8 LBS and upto 12 LBS
C
More than 12 LBS and upto 16 LBS
D
More than 16 LBS and upto 20 LBS
E
More than 20 LBS and upto 24 LBS
F
More than 24 LBS and upto 28 LBS
3
CB
A
Upto 8 LBS
B
More than 8 LBS and upto 12 LBS
C
More than 12 LBS and upto 16 LBS
D
More than 16 LBS and upto 20 LBS
E
More than 20 LBS and upto 24 LBS
F
More than 24 LBS and upto 28 LBS
4
CRT/CRX
A
Upto 8 LBS
B
More than 8 LBS and upto 12 LBS
C
More than 12 LBS and upto 16 LBS
D
More than 16 LBS and upto 20 LBS
E
More than 20 LBS and upto 24 LBS
F
More than 24 LBS and upto 28 LBS
5
CRM
A
Upto 8 LBS
B
More than 8 LBS and upto 12 LBS
C
More than 12 LBS and upto 16 LBS
D
More than 16 LBS and upto 20 LBS
E
More than 20 LBS and upto 24 LBS
F
More than 24 LBS and upto 28 LBS
- It is also noted that post the issuance of the final findings6 in the original investigation, the Authority conducted an anti-circumvention investigation7. Through its final finding8 dated
5 Notified vide Notification No. 7/9/2021-DGTR dated 27th September 2021. 6 Final Findings issued in Anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of “Jute products” viz- Jute Yarn/Twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), Hessian fabric, and Jute sacking bags from Bangladesh and Nepal dated 20th October 2016, F. No. 14/19/2015-DGAD. 7 Initiation of Anti-Circumvention investigation concerning alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duty imposed on the imports of Jute Sacking Bags from Bangladesh dated 20th March 2018, F. No. 7/3/2018 – DGAD. 8 Final Findings issued in Anti-Circumvention investigation concerning alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duty imposed on the imports of Jute Sacking Bags from Bangladesh dated 19th March 2019, F. No. 7/3/2018 – DGAD.
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19th March 2019, the Authority concluded that the duties imposed on jute sacking bag was
being circumvented through exports of jute sacking cloth from Bangladesh and consequently
through Customs Notification No. 24/2019-Customs (ADD)9 anti-dumping duty was also
extended on jute sacking cloth imported from Bangladesh.
10. Regarding the submission of interested parties with respect to difference in the jute yarn/twine,
the Authority notes that the production of fabric in fact requires single ply yarn, whereas
production of yarn for stitching bag requires two ply or three-ply yarn. The Nepalese producers
have not established with verifiable information that this yarn is not produced and sold in
India. It is also noted that the Nepalese producers did not identify any product attribute for
making a possibly different PCN for this product.
11. The Authority further notes that the PCNs for yarn have been devised considering
grade/quality/batch and count. In respect of grade/quality/batch, yarn was divided into
sacking, hessian, CB, CRX/CRT, and CRM. In respect of count, yarn has been divided into
certain pounds. The PCN have been devised and finalised after due consultation with all the
stakeholders. The Authority has not identified the attribute now advocated by the interested
parties. Further, the interested parties have not established how the attributes identified by
them shall result in a different product, and how the goods produced and sold by the domestic
industry does not meet the criteria laid down for like article under the AD Rules. The Authority
considers that the yarn exported by the Nepalese producers, by their own admission, is used
for the same applications for which yarn produced and sold by the domestic producers is
consumed.
12. The Authority notes from the information on record that the PUC produced by the domestic
industry is “like article” to the goods imported from the subject countries. The goods produced
by the domestic industry and imported from the subject countries are comparable in terms of
technical specifications, functions or end-uses, product specifications, pricing, distribution
and marketing, and tariff classification of the goods. The two are technically and commercially
interchangeable. Accordingly, the Authority holds that the subject goods produced by the
applicant are ‘like article’ to the subject goods being imported from the subject countries.
D. SCOPE OF DOMESTIC INDUSTRY & STANDING
D.1 Views of the domestic industry
13. The domestic industry has made the following submissions with regard to the domestic
industry and the standing:
i.
The application has been filed by Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) and six
members of the applicant association have participated as domestic producers and
filed the requisite information. The application has received supported from 33
producers prior to the initiation of the investigation.
9 Dated 18th June 2019.
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ii. Further, six other producers have filed injury information duly supported with tax
audit reports and financial statements, supporting the application post-initiation.
iii. Twenty-six other producers of the Indian jute industry have also provided the
Authority with segregated data regarding government procurement and open market
for basic volume information for the entire injury period.
iv. The analysis of domestic industry’s standing is not a mandatory requirement in a
sunset review investigation.
v. The applicant companies have neither imported the subject goods from the subject
countries nor are they related to any importer in India or producer/exporter from
subject countries.
vi. M/s Cheviot Company has submitted that it has imported jute yarn from Bangladesh
for their SEZ unit. and, therefore, should be considered irrelevant under Rule 2(b)
of the AD Rules.
vii. The applicant companies constitute ‘a major proportion’ of the total Indian
production according to Rule 2(b) and considering the support received, they also
satisfy the requirement of standing under Rule 5(3) of the AD Rules.
viii. The production figures of the participating companies reported in the petition are
only for the PUC. The miniscule quantity of the N-PUC produced by M/s Gloster
Ltd. has been excluded while determining the share of the petitioning companies.
Moreover, inclusion of the N-PUC data in case of the other domestic producers
would at the least understate the share of the present domestic industry in gross
domestic production.
ix. Regarding the submission of the other interested parties requesting the Authority to
look beyond the legal provisions and to take into commercial considerations for
addressal of potential risks to the Indian industry which does not form part of the
domestic industry, it is submitted that as per Article 3.4 of the Anti-dumping
Agreement, the investigating authority has to determine the injury with respect to
the domestic industry. The information of other domestic companies not forming
part of the domestic industry is not relevant for evaluating the “relevant economic
factors and indices having a bearing on the state of the domestic industry”.
x. The companies outside the domestic industry provide no basis for conclusions about
the impact of dumped imports on the domestic industry. In the EC - Bed Linen10
dispute, it has been held that information concerning other companies does not
inform the evaluation of “factors and indices having a bearing on the state of the
industry” and, therefore, the European Commission had failed to act consistently
with Article 3.4 of the Anti-dumping Agreement as they considered the producers
not part of the domestic industry in its evaluation.
xi. Regarding the contention of the other interested parties that only six out of the
fifteen applicants in the previous investigations have participated in the present
investigation and that the composition of the domestic industry has changed, it is
submitted that the production by the applicant companies accounts for major
proportion. In the case of a scattered and fragmented industry 28 % share should be
considered as sufficient to be considered a major proportion. Further, volume injury
10 European Communities — Anti-Dumping Duties on Imports of Cotton-type Bed Linen from India WT/DS141/R.
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has been claimed and the Authority should consider the adverse effect on the
volume parameters for the industry as a whole. The information regarding the
details of the market share in demand for the Indian industry as a whole has been
submitted with the Authority.
xii. Regarding the claim of other interested parties that the other applicants in the
previous investigations have not joined the present investigation because of the
huge improvement in the performance parameters it is submitted that this argument
is purely conjectural. Further, the claim of injury is based on the continued adverse
effect on the domestic producers as a whole, and likelihood of intensified injury in
the event of cessation of antidumping duty. Therefore, such allegations are without
relevance
D.2 Views of the other interested parties
14. Following submissions have been made by the other interested parties regarding the standing
of the domestic industry:
i. The websites of the petitioning companies states that they produce several varieties of
jute products, not all of which are claimed to be covered under the PUC. However,
while stating the performance of the domestic industry, the applicant has presented the
entire quantity of production of the petitioning companies as the total production of the
PUC except for the POI wherein there is a marginal difference. In spite of this, share of
production of all varieties of jute products of the petitioning companies has been
marginally above 25% of total domestic production during the injury period. If the
Authority considers the production of only the PUC by the applicant companies, then
their share will be much lower than 25%. The Authority should examine whether the
petition meets the requirement of Rule 23 (1B) read with Rule 2(b).
ii. The collective output of the six petitioners during the POI is 242,175 MT out of the
total Indian production of 863,565 MT i.e., 28.04% of the total Indian production. The
said output cannot be considered to be a major proportion of the Indian domestic
industry as the rest of the Indian producers constitute more than 70%. Even in the
original investigation, the collective output of the petitioners was 42.78%. Therefore,
the application should be rejected solely on the grounds of standing.
iii. The Authority should also examine the standing of the domestic industry with respect
to each product type to verify as to whether the domestic industry is representative for
each of the product types.
iv. The petitioner has not submitted any evidence to substantiate its claim that it is a
fragmented industry.
v. Cheviot Company Limited is ineligible to be treated as part of the domestic industry as
it has imported the subject goods during the POI. Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules excludes
producers who “are themselves importers…” in which case, “the term ‘domestic
industry’ may be construed as referring to the rest of the producers.” While it has been
stated that Cheviot has imported jute yarn from Bangladesh for their SEZ unit, the
prescription for disqualification of domestic producer from scope of domestic industry
upon importing subject goods under Rule 2(b) is not couched in any exceptions and is
absolute.
Page 17 of 122
vi. Without prejudice to the submission that Cheviot Company Limited cannot be included within the domestic industry, the petitioners account for only 28% of the Indian production notwithstanding the inclusion of Cheviot and therefore, cannot be said to be a constituting ‘a major proportion’. vii. Regarding what constitutes a major proportion the WTO panel in China — Autos (US)11 had observed that the percentage of production covered must be sufficiently large to qualify as an "important, serious or significant" proportion of total production. In the abovesaid report, the WTO Panel held that the threshold requirement of 25% for making an application has no correlation with the requirement to constitute major proportion. Rather, the investigating authority is required to determine whether the domestic producers being examined are sufficiently large, varied, important, serious, significant to be considered as representative of the domestic industry. viii. Twenty – nine companies had participated in the original investigation. The number of participants has fallen from 15 to 6 which shows that other jute mills are not participating in the present investigation because of improvement in their economic parameters. ix. While 25% is minimum threshold, facts and circumstances must be examined on case- to-case basis to determine whether the domestic producers constituting the domestic industry represent an important, major and significant share of domestic production so as to constitute ‘a major proportion’. When the domestic industry comprises of a large majority of jute mills which have not participated, and only six jute mills constituting a mere 28% of the total domestic production have participated, they should not be considered as representative of the domestic industry. a. Support letters contained in both letters dated 9th of March 2022 filed by the applicant - Indian Jute Mills Association on behalf of the various domestic
11 “7.207. When an IA defines the domestic industry as producers of the like product accounting for a "major proportion" of total domestic production, it must ensure that the percentage of production covered is sufficiently large to qualify as an "important, serious or significant" proportion of total production. That both the Anti-Dumping and SCM Agreements refer to "a" major proportion as opposed to "the" major proportion indicates that the percentage of production deemed a "major proportion" need not be greater than 50% of total production. We note in this respect that a panel previously accepted 46% of total production as sufficiently "important, serious or significant" to constitute a major proportion of total domestic production… … … 7.220 On appeal, China argued, inter alia, that the Panel erred in rejecting China's claim that the domestic industry as defined did not account for a "major proportion" of total domestic production. The Appellate Body upheld China's appeal with respect to the major proportion issue, but rejected the remainder of China's appeal. The Appellate Body found that the IA had relied on a 25% benchmark in concluding that 27% of total domestic production was a major proportion. The Appellate Body concluded that this benchmark, which was based on the standing requirement in Article 5.4 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement, was "wholly unrelated" to the proper interpretation of the term "major proportion", and thus, by applying that benchmark, the IA defined a domestic industry covering a low proportion of domestic production, significantly restricting the data coverage for an accurate and undistorted injury determination.345 In addition, the Appellate Body concluded that, by defining the domestic industry on the basis of producers' willingness to be included in the sample, the IA's approach imposed a self-selection process among domestic producers that introduced a material risk of distortion. The Appellate Body observed that the sample was a subset of the domestic industry, and thus the Appellate Body failed to see why willingness to be included in the subset should affect inclusion in the wider universe of the domestic industry.346 Moreover, the Appellate Body noted that the IA had, in fact, identified and obtained information from more producers than the 45 it ultimately included in the domestic industry. The Appellate Body concluded that by including in the domestic industry only those producers willing to be included in the sample, the IA's approach shrank the universe of producers whose data could have been used in making the injury determination.”
Page 18 of 122
producers supporting the levy have not been submitted in conformity with Trade Notice No.13 of 2018. The support letters should not be accepted at this stage as the same is also grossly delayed, especially considering the fact that the oral hearing between the interested parties had already been conducted along with the exchange of written submissions and rejoinder submissions. b. Accepting support letters at such belated stage would be in derogation of time limits prescribed in law and by Authority, especially since no information whatsoever as required in questionnaires provided under Annex-I and Annex-II of Trade Notice No. 13 of 2018 was submitted by the supporters at stage of initiation or within the time limit prescribed in the Initiation Notice dated 28th June 2021. x. IJMA has not provided any evidence that they qualify as an interested party in terms of Rule 2(c)(ii) and Para 4.9.10 given at page no. 50 of the Manual of Operating Practices for trade remedy investigations. They have not even provided a list of members(producers) producing the subject goods to enable the Authority to ascertain their status as an interested party.
xi. The thirty-three supporting companies have not provided any data for investigation. They have only enclosed their letters of support with the petition which is not sufficient enough to reach any conclusion. These companies cannot be treated as supporting companies in terms of Trade Notice No. 13/2018 dated 27th September 2018 and Trade Notice No. 14/2018 dated 1st October 2018.
D.3 Examination by the Authority
15. Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules defines domestic industry as under:
"(b) "domestic industry " means the domestic producers as a whole engaged in the
manufacture of the like article and any activity connected therewith or those whose
collective output of the said article constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic
production of that article except when such producers are related to the exporters or
importers of the alleged dumped article or are themselves importers thereof in such
case the term 'domestic industry ' must be construed as referring to the rest of the
producers"
16. The application has been filed by Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA). Following members
of the applicant association have participated as domestic producers and have filed the
requisite information:
i.
Bowreah Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd.
ii.
Caledonian Jute & Industries Ltd
iii.
Cheviot Company Limited
iv.
Gloster Limited
v.
Hoogly Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
vi.
Ludlow Jute & Specialities Limited
Page 19 of 122
-
The application filed by IJMA was supported by the following other domestic producers: i. Alliance Mills (Lessees) Ltd. ii. Bally Jute Company Ltd. iii. Budge Budge Co.Ltd. iv. Mahadeo Jute & Industries Ltd. v. RDB Textiles Ltd. vi. Shaktigarh Textile and Industries Ltd. vii. Jagatdal Jute & Industries Ltd. viii. Kamarhatty Co. Ltd. ix. The Naihati Jute Mills Co.Ltd. x. Reliance Jute Mills (International) Ltd.
-
Post filing of the application, the Authority received support letters from the following domestic producers: i. Prabartak Jute Mills Limited ii. Kalinga Jute Products Pvt. Ltd. iii. Eluru Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd. iv. HSB Agro Industries Ltd. v. The Mahabir Jute Mills Ltd. vi. Maheswari Jute Spinners Pvt. Ltd. vii. Aditya Translink Pvt. Ltd. viii. Ambica Jute Mills ix. Anglo India Jute & Textile Industries Pvt. Ltd. x. Auckland International Ltd. xi. The Angus Company Ltd. xii. Barnagore Jute Factory Plc. xiii. Birla Corporation Ltd. xiv. Dalhousie Jute Company xv. Delta Limited xvi. The Empire Jute Company Ltd. xvii. The Ganges Manufacturing Co., Ltd. xviii. The Hooghly Mills Company Ltd. xix. Vijai Shree Pvt. Ltd. xx. Calcutta Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd. xxi. Shree Gouri Shankar Jute Mills Ltd. xxii. Kanknarrah Company Ltd. xxiii. Northbrook Jute Company Ltd. xxiv. RDB Textiles Ltd. xxv. Shaktigarh Textile and Industries Ltd. xxvi. Sunbeam Vanijya Pvt. Ltd. xxvii. Agarpara Jute Mills Ltd. xxviii. Tepcon International (India) Ltd. xxix. Trend Vyapaar Ltd.
Page 20 of 122
-
The Authority has also received support from another association of the Indian jute industry, namely A P Mesta Twine Mills Association. This association has the following producers as its members: i. Sai Vardhan Jute Private Limited ii. Keshava Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd. iii. Andhra Pradesh Fibres Ltd iv. Sri Ganesh Jute Mills v. Sri Lakshmi Jute Mills vi. Navya Jute Mills Pvt.
vii. Uma Jute Twine Mills viii. Sri Santhosh Trading Co. ix. DGR Jute Mills Private Limited x. Neelam Jute Private Limited xi. Sri Sksn Jute Mills xii. Sri Lakshmi Ganapthi Jute Mills -
Further, the applicant has also submitted to the Authority support letters, wherein the following domestic producers provided volume information such as production, sales, capacity and stocks: i. The Ganges Manufacturing Co. Ltd. ii. Goyal Merchants Pvt. Ltd. iii. HSB Agro Industries Ltd. (Jute Division) iv. Jagatdal Jute and Industries Ltd. v. Jutex Industries Pvt. Ltd. vi. Kamakshi Jute Industries Ltd. vii. Aditya Translink Pvt. Ltd. viii. Mahadeo Jute and Industries Ltd. ix. Birla Corporation Ltd. (Birla Jute Mills) x. Murlidhar Ratanlal Exports Ltd. xi. Prabartak Jute Mills Ltd. xii. RDB Textiles Ltd. xiii. Reliance Jute Mills (International) Ltd. xiv. Shree Gouri Shankar Jute Mills Ltd. xv. The Angus Co. Ltd. xvi. Alliance Mills (Lessees) Ltd. xvii. Trend Vyapas Ltd. xviii. Ambica Jute Mills Ltd. xix. Auckland International Ltd. xx. Bally Jute Co. Ltd. xxi. Budge Budge Co. Ltd. xxii. Delta Ltd. xxiii. Ganges Jute Pvt. Ltd. xxiv. Shaktigarh Textile and Industries Ltd. (Gondalpara Mill Unit) xxv. Shaktigarh Textile and Industries Ltd (Hastings Mill Unit) xxvi. Shaktigarh Textile and Industries Ltd (Barshul Mill Unit)
Page 21 of 122
-
The applicant has also submitted injury information of six other producers along with verifiable documents in the form of tax audit reports and financial statements, of the following companies: i. Anglo India Jute and Textile Industries Pvt. Ltd. ii. Calcutta Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd. iii. Eluru Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd. iv. The Naihati Jute Mills Co. Ltd. v. The Hooghly Mills Co. Ltd. vi. Vijai Shree Pvt. Ltd.
-
Though the Authority has examined the domestic industry’s standing, it is noted that the test of standing is not relevant in the case of sunset review. The Authority corroborated the information provided regarding the total Indian production with the information published on the Office of Jute Commissioner’s website and found that the figure published on the website is in the same range as the data furnished by the applicant. Information regarding the share of production of the applicant companies and the supporters is given in the table below: SN Particulars Production in MT in the POI % 1 Applicant's total production 2,35,322 27.46% 2 Supporter (Format H) 6 companies 1,06,620 12.44% 3 Supporter (with volume and value information) 26 companies 4,55,818 53.20% 4 Applicant with supporters (Format H and supporting evidence) 3,41,942 39.91% 5 Applicant along with all supporters 7,97,760 93.12% 6 Others
58,923 6.87% 7 Total Indian production 8,56,683 100.00% -
From the participation received in the present investigation, including the participating applicant companies and the various number of producers that have supplemented their support to the application with information, the Authority notes that the production of the applicant companies constitutes 27.46% of the total domestic production in India.
-
With regards to the submission of other interested parties regarding exclusion of the NPUC, it is noted that the NPUC produced by the domestic industry has been excluded in determining the share of the domestic industry in total domestic production.
-
It is further noted that the applicant company has not imported the subject goods during the POI and is not related to any exporter or producer of the subject goods in the subject country or any importer of the product under consideration in India.
-
The Authority notes the submission by the other interested parties with respect to imports made by Cheviot Company Limited for its SEZ unit and, therefore, should not be considered as an eligible domestic producer. In this regard, it is noted that the units existing in Special
Page 22 of 122
Economic Zones (“SEZ”) are not treated as “domestic industry” for the purpose of Rule 2(b) on account of their special status granted in terms of Section 30 of the SEZ Act, 2005. Cheviot Company Limited has its units located in DTA area as well as in SEZ area. The imports made by Cheviot Company Limited has been made for its SEZ unit and not its DTA unit. Thus, imports made for the SEZ unit does not disentitle Cheviot Company Limited from being an eligible domestic producer in terms of Rule 2(b). 27. The Authority also notes that there is no absolute bar under Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules which mandates the exclusion of every domestic producer which has made imports. From the scope of domestic industry. The Gauhati High Court in its recent judgement in Century Plyboards v. Union of India12 has observed that the Authority enjoys certain discretion with respect to inclusion/exclusion of such importing domestic producers13. Such discretion is, however, not unfettered and is to be exercised on a case-to-case basis. The imports made by Cheviot is examined below: SN Particulars 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 1 Imports made by Cheviot 1,260 1,431 1,111 960 2 Trend 100 113 88 76 3 Cheviot's production
4
Trend
100
98
109
82
5
Total Indian Consumption
11,78,706
11,40,443
12,03,483
10,10,177
6
Total Imports from Bangladesh
98,766
88,256
1,23,016
1,11,912
Imports in relation to
7
Own production
2.89
3.24
2.32
2.67
8
Trend
100
112
80
92
9
Indian consumption
0.11
0.13
0.09
0.10
10
Total imports from Bangladesh
1.28
1.62
0.90
0.86
- It is seen that the imports made by Cheviot Company Limited in its SEZ unit is low in relation to its own production, and insignificant in relation to consumption, total Indian imports and gross domestic production and therefore, holds Cheviot as an eligible domestic producer in terms of Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules.
- As regards the argument that the supporters have not provided information as per the prescribed trade notice and therefore, should not be treated as supporters to the application made by the applicant, it is noted that indeed, several producers have not provided any information about their economic parameters. However, 32 other domestic producers have provided information on installed capacity, production quantity, sales volume and value, separately for domestic sales, exports and captive consumption as required under Trade Notice
12 W.P.(C) 1102/2022. 13 “54. In view of the above, it is the considered view of the Court that the amendment brought in to the definition of ‘domestic industry’ by the notification dated 01.12.2011 in Rule 2(b) of the ADR 1995 do bring in a discretion upon the authorities to include the producers related to the exporters or importers of the dumped article or the importers themselves in the concept of ‘domestic industry’. But again because of the nature and implications of the successive amendments, we have to understand that such discretion may not be an absolute discretion but would be a circumstantial discretion to be determined on case to case basis.”
Page 23 of 122
No. 05/2021 dated 29th July, 2021. Further, six of the other producers have provided complete
injury information along with supporting evidence in the form of tax audit report and financial
statements. The Authority notes that it cannot be ignored that the share of the applicant along
with the 32 producers providing information as required under Trade Notice 05/2021 dated
29th July, 2021 constitutes around 93% of the total Indian production and share of the applicant
along with 6 supporting producers who have provided information along with supporting
evidence constitutes around 40% of total Indian production.
30. The Authority has not taken into account the injury information provided by such producers
who have submitted it at a belated stage. However, since these companies have provided
relevant information, the same has nevertheless been separately examined in order to ascertain
whether their performance shows a materially different position as compared to the applicant
domestic industry, and whether non-consideration of their data would lead to material
distortion in the eventual conclusion and for examining the overall state of the Indian industry
as a whole.
31. Considering the above facts, the Authority holds that the applicant companies constitute
domestic industry under Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules and the application meets the requirements
of ‘standing’ under Rule 5(3) of the AD Rules.
E. CONFIDENTIALITY
E.1 Views of the domestic industry
32. The domestic industry has made the following submissions with regard to confidentiality:
i.
The information claimed as confidential by the domestic industry are related to price
which is a business sensitive information and as such cannot be disclosed in any
manner. As regards the comment that actual figures should have been disclosed, it must
be noted that injury examination is done to evaluate the effect of the dumped imports
on the domestic industry over the injury period wherein the investigating authority is
required to determine whether the situation of the domestic industry during the POI can
be described as “injurious”. In this respect, the trend of the information is more
important while examining injury rather than the actual figures.
ii.
As regards the information on surplus estimates in Bangladesh, demand and supply/
production in Bangladesh, consumption of raw jute in Bangladesh etc. is concerned, it
is submitted that this information cannot be disclosed as the same is not readily available
in public domain. However, the sources through which such information has been taken
have been disclosed.
iii.
The applicant had circulated the non-confidential version of the application and
addendum vide letter dated 22.06.2021 along with all the information filed post filing
of the initial petition. The injury annexures also underwent some minor changes for
which an addendum was attached along with the application. There was no change in
the figures for the injury period in the application considered at the stage of initiation
and the information was provided after updating the POI data.
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E.2 Views of the other interested parties
33. Following submissions have been made by other interested parties regarding confidentiality:
i.
Majority of information provided in the petition has been kept confidential for which
no non-confidential summary has been provided. No non-confidential summary has
been provided even for information such as surplus estimates in Bangladesh, demand
and supply/production in Bangladesh, consumption of raw jute in Bangladesh and so
on which pertains to the respondents. This makes it difficult for the respondents, to
properly evaluate the situation and make useful contribution in the investigation.
ii.
The ability of the respondents to verify and assess whether the entire gamut of
information submitted by the supporters with respect to Annex-II in the letter circulated
on 14th March 2022 or for that matter, the limited volume information submitted by the
supporters vide letter dated 11th March 2022 has been completely circumscribed as the
supporters providing such information have claimed complete confidentiality without
providing an adequate non-confidential summary or reasons why such summarization
is not possible.
iii.
The domestic industry has claimed excessive confidentiality and has filed an incomplete
petition. The domestic industry has not furnished any information related to costing nor
has it provided any reasonable justification for its claim as per Rule 7 of the AD Rules
and Trade Notice No. 1/201314 and 10/201815. The petitioner has withheld and
manipulated information related to the allegations of injury.
E.3 Examination by the Authority
34. With regard to confidentiality of information, Rule 7 of the Rules provides as follows:
" Confidential information : (l) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-Rules (2),
(3)and (7) of rule 6, sub-rule (2) of rule 12, and sub-rule (4) of rule 15, and sub-rule
(4) of rule 17, the copies of applications received under sub-rule (1) of rule 5, or any
other information provided to the designated authority on a confidential basis by any
party in the course of the investigation shall, upon the designated authority being
satisfied as to its confidentiality be treated as such by tt and no such information
shall be disclosed to any other party without specific authorisation of the party
providing such information.
(2) The designated authority may require the party's providing information on confidential basis to furnish non-confidential summary thereof and if, in the opinion of a party providing such information, such information is not susceptible of summary, such party may submit to the designated authority a statement of reasons why summarization is not possible.
14 Trade Notice No: 1/2013 Requirements for Submission of Confidential/Non-confidential information by Stakeholders. 15 Trade Notice No: 10/2018 Streamlining of Anti-Dumping Investigations- Clarification regarding Disclosure of Information in Confidential Version / Non-Confidential Version of Responses filed by the Domestic Industry and Other Interested Parties dated 7th September 2018, F.No. 4/17/2018.
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(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (2), if the designated authority is satisfied that the request for confidentiality is not warranted or the supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information public or to authorize its disclosure in a generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information. "
- The Authority notes the submissions of the interested parties with respect to the confidential report filed by the domestic industry in relation to Bangladesh and Nepal regarding surplus capacity, demand, supply etc. The domestic industry expressed its inability to provide an adequate non-confidential summary of the same as it contained third party information. The Authority, therefore, notes such excessive confidentiality would have prevented other interested parties from making meaningful submissions on certain aspects such as surplus estimates in Bangladesh, demand and supply/production in Bangladesh, consumption of raw jute in Bangladesh, etc. Accordingly, the Authority has not accepted the same.
- Regarding other submissions made by the domestic industry and the other interested parties with regard to confidentiality, to the extent considered relevant, were examined by the Authority and addressed accordingly. The Authority notes that the information provided by the interested parties on confidential basis was duly examined with regard to sufficiency of the confidentiality claim. On being satisfied, the Authority has accepted the confidentiality claims, wherever warranted and such information has been considered confidential and not disclosed to other interested parties. Wherever possible, parties providing information on confidential basis were directed to provide sufficient nonconfidential version of the information filed on confidential basis. The Authority also notes that all interested parties have claimed their business-related sensitive information as confidential. F. MISCELLANEOUS F.1 Views of the domestic industry
- The domestic industry has made the following miscellaneous submissions:
i. The domestic industry shall respond to the offer of price undertaking as and when the Authority communicates the conditions and base price for the same. ii. Applicant has provided the import data in PDF and has complied with the Trade Notice 07/2018. Since the CESTAT order in Exotic Décor Pvt. Ltd., the Authority authorizes all interested parties to obtain such data from DGCI&S. No prejudice can be caused to the interested parties by obtaining the import data in PDF from the petitioner and in excel form from DGCI&S.
F.2 Views of the other interested parties
38. The other interested parties have made the following miscellaneous submissions:
i.
The initiation is bad in law as the Authority has not made any enquiry from other domestic
producers to ascertain likelihood and injury as it had done in a recent investigation.
ii.
Initiating a sunset review is a two-stage process. The first stage being an examination of
the sunset review application with a view to satisfy itself that such a review is required to
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be initiated. In the present case, initiation notice does not reveal the basis on which the
Authority came to the conclusion that a review was required vis-à-vis Nepal since dumping
margin was found de minimis. Furthermore, no prima facie satisfaction was recorded about
the continuation of injury to the domestic industry due to imports from Nepal or for that
matter, a likelihood thereof.
iii.
The Authority has observed that a number of factors indicate the existence of likelihood
of recurrence of injury from Bangladesh but with respect to Nepal it was only mentioned
that India is a significant market for Nepalese producers and that price undercutting was
positive. However, the petition filed by the domestic industry indicated a negative price
undercutting. In a situation where neither dumping has continued nor injury to the
domestic industry is likely to recur, sunset review investigation against Nepal should not
have been initiated.
iv.
Despite (i) Arihant Multi-Fibres Limited, and (ii) Shree Raghupati Jute Mills (iii) Swastik
Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd., and (iv) Baba Jute Mills Pvt. Ltd. having participated in the original
investigation and an individual rate of duty been ascribed to them, the domestic industry
has not mentioned these producers/exporters from Nepal in their application for the
initiation of investigation. It indicates that no effort was made by the petitioner to
determine the producers and exporters from Nepal since no material injury is being
suffered due to imports coming from Nepal.
v.
From the submissions made by the domestic industry during the course of the
investigation, it is manifest that the apprehension regarding likelihood of injury expressed
is solely focused on imports from Bangladesh and not Nepal. As the petitioners have
conspicuously omitted Nepal from the said discussions, it shows that they are not perturbed
by imports from Nepal.
vi.
With the change in the POI by the Authority, the petitioner was supposed to change the
data pertaining to the POI only, however, to our surprise, the petitioner has changed all the
vital figures of the injury period in their revised petition for the POI as well as the previous
years. It appears that the domestic industry was trying to manipulate the data by making
amendments in the petition to mislead the Authority. This raises serious questions about
the reliability and authenticity of the data provided by the petitioner.
vii.
The petitioner was required to file the correct information at the initiation stage itself
strictly in terms of the prescribed formats. The information provided in the original petition
which formed the basis for the initiation of the present investigation cannot be revised at a
later stage without providing specific reasons.
viii.
The petitioner has kept the information regarding the possible production capacity of
producers from Bangladesh as confidential which is quite surprising as this information is
collected from international organisations and the website of the Government of
Bangladesh. Such information is not confidential by nature and keeping such information
confidential contravenes Article 6.5 of the Anti-dumping Agreement.
F.3 Examination by the Authority
39. The miscellaneous submissions by the interested parties to the extent found relevant have been
addressed below:
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a. As regards the submission that the initiation notification did not reveal the basis on which the investigation was initiated against Nepal, the Authority notes that the initiation notification noted that the dumping margin is negative for Nepal at this stage, however, dumping margin needs to be further looked at during the investigation after considering the PCN-wise information. It was further noted that price undercutting for Nepal was positive and that India is an extremely significant market, making Nepalese producers highly dependent on it which justifies initiation of the investigation against Nepal as well. b. As regards the argument that there is no evidence placed by the applicant to show that there exists likelihood of dumping and injury from imports of the subject goods from Nepal, it is noted that the application did provide information regarding the prevailing demand, supply and production situation in Nepal to substantiate the likelihood of dumping and injury from Nepal. c. As regards the argument that the applicant has modified the information for the period prior to the POI while updating information for the POI selected by the Authority, it is noted that the interested parties have incorrectly referred to the data in the application. The information as provided in the addendum to the application had undergone some changes in the period prior to the POI. The application along with the addendum was shared with all the interested parties. Thus, there was no change in the data for years prior to the POI at the stage of initiation.
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G. ASSESSMENT OF DUMPING AND DETERMINATION OF NORMAL VALUE,
EXPORT PRICE AND DUMPING MARGIN
G.1. Views of the domestic industry
40. The submissions of the domestic industry with regards to the normal value, the export price
and the dumping margin, are as follows:
i.
The normal value for exporters/producers from Bangladesh has been considered
on the basis of prices published by sellers on various websites as no evidence was
found regarding the prices of subject goods while the normal value for Nepal has
been constructed owing to the absence of publicly available information.
ii. The Authority may consider the following for modification of duty:
a. Where exports volumes are significantly higher in comparison to the levels
during the original investigation or in relation to current imports, the export
price is to be considered reliable enough to consider modification of duty.
b. Where export volumes are not significant enough to establish reliability of
the export price, the dumping margin and injury margin in the current period
may not be considered representative and the previous duties may kindly be
extended.
c. Reliability of export price with reference to both volume and price is
important before considering modification of duty. If there has been a
significant increase in imports in the current period, both volume and price
should be considered for modification of duty.
iii. The export price was determined on the basis of transaction wise DGCI&S data
with due adjustments.
iv. A comparison of the normal value and the export price. shows that the dumping
margin is quite significant and positive despite imposition of anti-dumping duties.
v.
The declaration of Government of Bangladesh during the hearing that their jute
industry is not profitable shows that Bangladeshi exporters are making exports at
dumped prices. The responses should be scrutinized in light of this statement and
the responses that show a contrary position may be read to imply that the
information is not factually correct, or even fabricated.
vi. As regards the submission that the dumping and injury margin claims by the
applicant are highly misleading and inflated, it is submitted that the applicant does
not object to calculation of margins based on responses filed provided the same
be examined as not deficient and incomplete in any manner. Based on the
statement made during the oral hearing the applicant suspects that the
questionnaire responses are grossly deficient.
vii. The other interested parties have submitted that applicant’s analysis of normal
value, export price and dumping margin are violative of AD Rules and Anti-
dumping Agreement and that such faulty analysis also colours the likelihood
analysis. It has also been contended dumping margin be calculated on the basis of
information regarding cost of production, export price to India as submitted by the
respondent in their EQRs. With respect to these contentions, it is submitted that
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the normal value, export price and the dumping margin has been determined on
the basis of the best information available and are not faulty.
viii. The Authority should verify the claims made by the interested parties in their
EQRs and examine them particularly from the perspective of likelihood of
dumping and injury.
ix. None of the interested parties have denied the occurrence of dumping during the
oral hearing. In fact the Government of Bangladesh admitted that the sales are not
profitable and thus, the claim of no dumping appears to be incorrect. Arguendo,
if the dumping margin is negative, the Authority should consider the volume and
the price at which goods have been sold in the export market, their capacity, export
orientation etc. to determine likelihood.
x.
All responses filed by Alijan Jute Mills Ltd., Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills
(Bangladesh) Ltd., and Sonali Aansh Industries Ltd., should be rejected as the
same was filed vide links despite DGTR’s requirement not permitting it. A party
filing through such medium can amend/alter their submissions anytime despite
having made incorrect/deficient submission.
xi. According to the website of Rabeya Jute Mill, it has three sister concerns that are
engaged in trading, namely Abdul Samad and Sons, Samad Trading Corporation,
S.R. Enterprise, but none of these names were mentioned in the response and it is
not known whether any of these listed traders are engaged in the trading of the
subject goods.
xii. Erans Trade International Ltd. (related exporter of Mouna) identifies itself as a
mere exporter of the subject goods in its response but on their website, it has
claimed that it is a producer of the subject goods. This contradiction should be
verified and if it is a producer, then it should have provided all relevant
information that a producer has to file. If such information cannot be verified, the
Authority may reject the response of not just Erans but the entire group.
xiii. According to the questionnaire responses 14 exporters have seen an increase in
exports to India and all of them fall in the low duty/exempted category. This trend
is not coincidental but rather a planned activity to continuously export the subject
goods in the Indian market and as per market intelligence, these exporters
constitute about 50% of the total volume of the subject imports. Some of the
exporters do not even have the capacity to export the subject goods in huge
volumes and are routing exports of producers having high duty.
xiv. The applicant through its letter16 dated 04th June 2021 has explained as to why
certain evidence of prices that were available were not chosen or considered
appropriate. The letter also contains the final and appropriate information to be
considered for determining the normal value and has also provided the sources,
i.e., links of the prices considered. The normal value tables given in the letter dated
22nd June 2021 are merely a replication and extension of the information given in
the previous letter. Further, the applicant has adjusted the normal value
considering available information and the best estimates.
16 Paras 7-12 of the letter.
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xv. Regarding the transaction wise cash incentives provided by the Government to the respondent, the Authority had in the original dumping investigation stated that the said adjustment is not specifically provided under Article 2.4 of the Anti-dumping Agreement. The Hon’ble CESTAT has also considered that the approach adopted by the Authority is appropriate. Further, no authority allows adjustment for duty drawback received by Indian exporters, nor DPEB was being allowed when it was being granted.
G.2. Views of the other interested parties
41. The other interested parties have made the following submissions with regard to the normal
value, export price and dumping margin:
i. The applicant has not submitted any evidence which indicates that the export price of
any exporter is unreliable.
ii. With respect to dumping from Nepal, the Authority had observed in the initiation notice
that as comparisons were done on an average basis, de minimis dumping margin may
not be representative of actual situation of dumping due to various PCNs involved.
However, PCNs were suggested by the Authority only with respect to jute yarn and not
sacking bags or hessian fabric. Also, the producers/exporters from Nepal have only
exported one type of jute yarn which does not fall under any of the PCNs suggested by
the Authority. As such, overall dumping margin from Nepal is negative notwithstanding
the multiple PCNs suggested by the Authority vis-à-vis yarn/twine as Nepal exports
only one product type per category of the PUC i.e., yarn, hessian fabric and sacking
bags.
iii. In paragraph 8 of the letter of the petitioner sent to the Authority on 4 June 2021, it was
mentioned: “8. The petitioner made efforts to gather evidence of domestic prices of jute
products in Nepal and Bangladesh, however, as it would be seen from the table below,
these prices are not reliable as they seem to be one blanket price for all product types,
thus making it unreliable for analysis”. Moreover, in paragraph 12 of the same letter,
the petitioner has stated the following: “12. Petitioner has further found following
information/evidence with regard to costs/prices in Bangladesh. These could however
not be used for the reason that these do not contain information about specific type of
the product involved”. Thus, the petitioner itself claims that the prices and cost of
production provided by it are not reliable.
iv. Despite being fully aware of the fact that jute products are imported through land
customs station, the petitioner has charged US$ 30/MT as freight to artificially reduce
the export price. Secondly, 3% commission charge was adjusted in the petition, which
is arbitrary. It is clear from the EQR of the respondent that respondent has never
provided such commission. Thirdly, bank charge, insurance charge and inland
transportation cost considered in the petition are all arbitrary. For instance, marine
insurance is normally 0.10% to 0.125% of 110% of the CIF value and it is never as high
as 0.5% of CIF as claimed by the applicant.
v. Moreover, while estimating the normal value for different categories of jute products,
the petitioner has failed to estimate the export price of the same category of jute
products.
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vi. Appendix 3A of EQR of the respondent shows that it received cash incentive from the
Government during the POI. Without considering this adjustment, a fair comparison in
line with Annexure I of the AD Rules and Article 2.4 of the Anti-dumping Agreement
cannot be made.
vii. Since the petitioner has relied on positive dumping margin as a ground for the likelihood
analysis for the continuation of anti-dumping duty, the respondent, based on the above
mentioned three factors, submits that the likelihood analysis based on such faulty
determination of dumping margin contradicts with both the AD Rules as well as the
WTO disciplines.
viii. The Authority may determine the individual margins of dumping and injury based on
the responses as filed by each of the parties as the claims of dumping and injury margin
made by the petitioners are highly misleading and inflated and cannot form the basis
for a fair and just determination.
ix. Individual margins for all exporters irrespective of the sampling done be determined
since complete response have been filed by all the exporters upon initiation.
x. Determination of fresh dumping and injury margin are essential because the margins
determined in the original case have undergone substantial changes.
xi. Three entities from Nepal i.e. (i) Swastik Jute Mills Pvt Ltd; (ii) Baba Jute Mills (P.)
Ltd and (iii) Nepal Jute Industries Pvt Ltd have not been selected in the sample. The
Authority must determine individual dumping margins for them as they have filed full
questionnaire responses with all supporting documents and evidence. The prevalent
global practice is to select a sample first and then proceed to direct the sampled
producers to provide full EQRs.
xii. Arihant Multi-Fibres Limited and Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. are related parties
which had participated and were considered cooperative in the original investigation
and were allotted a common rate of duty with hessian fabric being assigned a nil rate of
duty. Since no duty was levied in the original investigation itself, a product which was
not found to be dumped and not subject to duty cannot be subject to sunset review.
Therefore, the present sunset review investigation should be restricted to examination
of only jute yarn/twine and sacking bags in so far as Arihant Multi-Fibres Limited and
Shree Raghupati Jute Mills are concerned. As per the WTO Appellate Body Report in
Mexico — Anti-Dumping Measures on Rice17, an anti-dumping investigation must
be terminated against a producer/exporter once the rate of dumping is determined as de
minimis.
xiii. The statement of the Government of Bangladesh regarding losses suffered by the
exporters/producers of Bangladesh was of general nature and is not applicable to all
exporters/producers from Bangladesh.
xiv. A.M. Jute Industries Ltd. has provided the Authority with its actual information which
has been verified by the Authority and it is requested that the Authority use this
information for computation of dumping and injury margin.
xv. The claims with respect to alleged traders of M/s Rabeya Jute Mills is entirely
unfounded and has no basis. The listed concerns are independently run and are in no
way related to M/s Rabeya Mills and none of them deal in jute or jute related products.
17 Appellate Body Report, Mexico – Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Beef and Rice WT/DS295/AB/R dated 29 November 2005.
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xvi. Erans Trade International Ltd. is only an exporter of finished goods and is not a
manufacturer. The website of the company is under construction and the developer of
the website has used the term wrongly which was not verified by the Company.
Therefore, it is requested that the Authority should ignore the same.
xvii. Out of the 14 exporters referred to by the petitioners whose imports to India have
allegedly increased, eleven are subject to high duty. The exports of the three other
producers have declined during the POI as can be seen from Annexure C.
G.3. Examination by the Authority
42. Under Section 9A (1)(c) normal value in relation to an article means:
(i)
the comparable price, in the ordinary course of trade, for the like article when meant
for consumption in the exporting country or territory as determined in accordance with
the rules made under sub-section (6); or
(ii) when there are no sales of the like article in the ordinary course of trade in the
domestic market of the exporting country or territory, or when because of the
particular market situation or low volume of the sales in the domestic market of the
exporting country or territory, such sales do not permit a proper comparison, the
normal value shall be either-
(a) comparable representative price of the like article when exported from the
exporting country or territory or an appropriate third country as determined in
accordance with the rules made under sub-section (6); or the cost of production of the
said article in the country of origin along with reasonable addition for administrative,
selling and general costs, and for profits, as determined in accordance with the rules
made under sub-section (6):
(b) Provided that in the case of import of the article from a country other than the
country of origin and where the article has been merely transshipped through the
country of export or such article is not produced in the country of export or there is no
comparable price in the country of export, the normal value shall be determined with
reference to its price in the country of origin.
43. At the time of initiation, the Authority determined the normal value by taking the facts which
were considered sufficient to initiate the investigation, However, after initiation the
determination of normal value has been made after taking into account the responses received
from the interested parties.
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- Since a large number of producers/exporters from the subject countries have responded, the Authority has undertaken sampling as per the relevant provisions relating to sampling is Article 6.10 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement18 and Rule 17 (3) of the AD Rules.19
- As regards the claim on adjustment on export subsidy by the producers/exporters of Bangladesh, the Authority holds that this adjustment is not specifically provided under Article 2.4 of the WTO Agreement on Anti-dumping.
- Accordingly, the Authority had undertaken sampling of 19 exporter questionnaires filed by various producers/exporters from the subject countries. The sampling has been done by selecting exporters with different quantum of exports to India. Based on the sampling following 19 producers/exporters were firmed up as a sample after seeking views of all concerned cooperative producers/exporters, which are as follows: i. Hasan Jute Mills Limited ii. Hasan Jute Spinning Mills Limited iii. Alijan Jute Mills Limited iv. Arnu Jute Mills Limited, Bangladesh v. A.M. Jute Industries Limited vi. Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. vii. Sidlaw Textiles Ltd. viii. Oriental Jute Mills ix. Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (Bangladesh) Limited x. Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd
18 Article 6.10: “The authorities shall, as a rule, determine an individual margin of dumping for each known exporter
or producer concerned of the product under investigation. In cases where the number of exporters, producers,
importers or types of products involved is so large as to make such a determination impracticable, the authorities may
limit their examination either to a reasonable number of interested parties or products by using samples which are
statistically valid on the basis of information available to the authorities at the time of the selection, or to the largest
percentage of the volume of the exports from the country in question which can reasonably be investigated.
6.10.1 Any selection of exporters, producers, importers or types of products made under this paragraph shall
preferably be chosen in consultation with and with the consent of the exporters, producers or importers concerned.
6.10.2 In cases where the authorities have limited their examination, as provided for in this paragraph, they shall
nevertheless determine an individual margin of dumping for any exporter or producer not initially selected who
submits the necessary information in time for that information to be considered during the course of the investigation,
except where the number of exporters or producers is so large that individual examinations would be unduly
burdensome to the authorities and prevent the timely completion of the investigation. Voluntary responses shall not
be discouraged.”
19 Rule 17 (3): “The designated authority shall determine an individual margin of dumping for each known exporter
or producer concerned of the article under investigation: Provided that in cases where the number of exporters,
producers, importers or types of articles involved are so large as to make such determination impracticable, it may
limit its findings either to a reasonable number of interested parties or articles by using statistically valid samples
based on information available at the time of selection, or to the largest percentage of the volume of the exports from
the country in question which can reasonably be investigated, and any selection, of exporters, producers, or types of
articles, made under this proviso shall preferably be made in consultation with and with the consent of the exporters,
producers or importers concerned:
Provided further that the designated authority shall, determine an individual margin of dumping for any exporter or producer, though not selected initially, who submit necessary information in time, except where the number of exporters or producers are so large that individual examination would be unduly burdensome and prevent the timely completion of the investigation.”
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xi. Rabeya Jute Mill xii. Bogra Jute Mills Ltd xiii. Ranu Agro Industries Limited, Bangladesh xiv. Sonali Aansh Industries Limited. xv. Mouna Jute Mills Ltd xvi. Erans Trade International Ltd xvii. Ecotrade International xviii. Arihant Multi-Fibres Ltd xix. Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd.
- The Authority has determined the normal values for all the sampled producers/exporters on the basis of the information submitted by them in the following manner: a. To determine the normal value, the Authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine the profit-making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of the subject goods. If profit making transactions are more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value; or b. Where there were no domestic sales or no profitable domestic sales or the domestic sales were insufficient of comparable product, the normal value was constructed based on the cost of production of the products exported to India along with reasonable addition for profits.
- The Authority has accorded individual dumping margins to all the sampled producers/exporters. For the non-sampled producers/exporters, weighted average dumping margin of the sampled producers/exporters has been accorded separately for the 3 product types. The Authority has calculated the dumping margin for the residual category of producers/exporters on the basis of facts available. The non-sampled producers/exporters are as under: i. Mirza Jute Mills Ltd. ii. Gem Jute Mill iii. Afzal Fibre Processing Industries iv. Anam Jute Products Ltd. v. Asha Jute Industries Ltd. vi. Usha Jute Spinners Ltd. vii. Bonanza Jute Composite & Diverse Factory Ltd. viii. Jamuna Jute Industries Ltd. ix. Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. x. Joy Jute Mills Ltd. xi. Jute Textile Mills Ltd. xii. Golden Jute Industries Ltd.
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xiii. Pride jute Mills Ltd. xiv. Rajbari Jute Mills Ltd. xv. Hasen Jute Industries Ltd. xvi. Janata Jute Mills Ltd. xvii. Sadat Jute Industries Ltd. xviii. Baba Jute Mills xix. Swastik Jute mills Pvt. Ltd xx. Nepal Jute Industries Pvt. Ltd. xxi. Glory Jute Ltd. xxii. Madina Jute Industries Ltd. xxiii. Mazeda Jute Industries Ltd. xxiv. Reliance Jute Mills Ltd. xxv. Salim Agro Industries Ltd. xxvi. Shamsher Jute Mills Ltd. xxvii. Wahab Jute Mills xxviii. Akij Jute Mills Ltd. xxix. Lovely Jute Mills Ltd. xxx. Nowapara Jute Mills Ltd. xxxi. Nowapara Packaging Industries Ltd. xxxii. Bangla Pat Diversified Mills Ltd.
The Authority notes that the questionnaire responses filed by Nowpara Jute Mills Ltd., Nowapara Packaging Industries Ltd. and Bangla Pat Diversified Mills Ltd. are incomplete and have, therefore, been rejected by the Authority. Accordingly, these producers have been treated as non – cooperative.
G.3.1. Determination of normal value and export price for all sampled exporters of
Bangladesh
Bogra Jute Mill (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Bogra Jute Mill (hereinafter referred to as "Bogra/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Bogra has exported the subject goods (sacking bag, sacking cloth and two PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Bogra has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Bogra shows that the company has sold sacking bag, sacking cloth and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Bogra has sold *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of two PCNs of yarn in the domestic market during the POI, whereas, it has exported *** MT sacking bag and *** MT of two of the PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in
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ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. It was found that *** % sales of sacking bag and *** % sales of jute yarn/twine were profitable. The company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Bogra has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Bogra Jute Mill has exported *** MT sacking bag and *** MT of two of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Bogra Jute Mill. Bogra has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, certificate of origin charges, SAFTA expenses, oil content expenses, C&F charges, bank charges and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) – 0 Sacking bag
() () (20) – (10)
Hasan Jute Mills Ltd. (Producer/Exporter) & Hasan Jute & Spinning Mill Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Responses, the Authority notes that Hasan Jute Mills Ltd. and its related company Hasan Jute & Spinning Mill (hereinafter referred to as "Hasan/Exporter/the Company”) are producers of subject goods from Bangladesh. However, goods have been exported to India only by Hasan Jute Mills Ltd. and the related company Hasan Jute & Spinning Mill has sold in the domestic market only. As noted,
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Hasan has exported the subject goods (sacking bag and 8 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Both companies have provided the information on PCN basis. The response of Hasan shows that the company has sold sacking bag and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Both the companies together have sold *** MT of sacking bags and *** MT of eight PCNs of yarn in the domestic market during the POI, whereas, it has exported *** MT sacking bag and *** MT of eight PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in the ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the AD Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the Authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. It was found that *** % sales of sacking bag and *** % sales of jute yarn/twine were profitable. The company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for the group has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Hasan Jute Mill Ltd. has exported *** MT sacking bag and *** MT of eight PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Hasan Jute Mill. Hasan has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, C&F expenses, net bank charges, document making cost, and packing cost \and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) – 0 Sacking bag
() () (20) - (10)
Rabeya Jute Mill (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
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i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Rabeya Jute Mill (hereinafter referred to as "Rabeya/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Rabeya has exported the subject goods (sacking bag, hessian fabric and 1 PCN of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Rabeya has provided the information on PCN basis. The response of Rabeya shows that the company has sold sacking bag and yarn in the domestic market and sacking bag, hessian fabric and one PCN of yarn exported to India during the POI.
ii. Rabeya has sold *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of one PCN of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT sacking bag, *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of one PCN of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of sales of sacking bag and *** % of sales of jute yarn/twine were profitable. There were no domestic sales of hessian fabric. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at Ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Rabeya has been calculated and the same mentioned in the Dumping Margin table below.
Export Price iii. It is noted that Rabeya Jute Mill has exported *** MT sacking bag, *** MT of Hessian Fabric and *** MT of one of the PCN of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Rabeya Jute Mill. Rabeya has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, port & other related expenses, bank charges and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value Weighted Average Export Price Dumping Margin Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
30 – 40 Sacking bag
()
()
(20) – (10)
Hessian fabric
() () (20) – (10)
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Mouna Jute Mills Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Mouna Jute Mills Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Mouna/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Mouna has exported the subject goods (sacking cloth and 2 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India and also exported the subject goods (Sacking Cloth) through two of its related company namely Erans Trade International Ltd. and Ecotrade International to unrelated customers in India. Mouna and its related companies have provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Mouna shows that the Company have sold sacking bag, sacking cloth, hessian fabric and yarn in the domestic market and sacking cloth and yarn exported to India during the POI.
ii. Mouna has sold *** MT of sacking bag, and *** MT of two of the PCNs of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of two PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I of the AD Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. There were no domestic sales of sacking bag and *** % sales of jute yarn/twine were profitable. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Mouna has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Mouna Jute Mills Ltd. along with its two related exporters namely Erans Trade International Ltd. and Ecotrade International have exported *** MT of two of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Mouna Jute Mill. Mouna has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, C&F cost, buying commission, bank cost and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory
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export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin %
Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
0 - 10
Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Nawhata/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Nawhata has exported the subject goods (sacking cloth and hessian fabric) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Nawhata has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Nawhata shows that the Company have sold sacking cloth in the domestic market and sacking cloth and hessian fabric exported to India during the POI.
ii. Nawhata has not made any domestic sales of hessian fabric whereas it has exported *** MT of hessian fabric to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. As there were no domestic sales, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. There were no domestic sales of hessian fabric. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Nawahata has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price iii. It is noted that Nawhata Jute Mill has exported *** MT of hessian fabric to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Nawhata Jute Mill. Nawhata has claimed adjustments on account of truck fare, bank swift cost, port & other related exp and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex- factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range
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Hessian Fabric ***
() ( ) (30) – (20)
Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Sagar/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Sagar has exported the subject goods 12 PCNs of yarn directly to its unrelated customers in India. Sagar has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Sagar shows that the Company have sold sacking bag, sacking cloth and yarn in the domestic market and sacking cloth and yarn exported to India during the POI.
ii. Sagar has sold *** MT of one PCN of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti- dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of sales of yarn were profitable. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Sagar has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. has exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Sagar Jute Mill. Sagar has claimed adjustments on account of ocean freight, inland freight, port & other related expenses and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range
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Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) - 0
Sidlaw Textiles (Bangladesh) Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Sidlaw Textiles (Bangladesh) Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Sidlaw/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Sidlaw has exported the subject goods (sacking cloth and 12 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Sidlaw has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Sidlaw shows that the Company have sold sacking cloth and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Sidlaw has sold *** MT of four of the PCNs of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of sales of yarn were profitable. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Sidlaw has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Sidlaw Textiles (Bangladesh) Ltd. has exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Sidlaw Jute Mill. Sidlaw has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, CIF expenses, net banking charges, postage & documentation charges and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
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iv. The Authority notes that Sagar Jute Spinning Mills and Sidlaw Textiles are a group. Accordingly, the following table mentions their normal value, export price and dumping margin as a group:
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value Weighted Average Export Price Dumping Margin Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) - 0
Alijan Jute Mills Limited and Sonali Aansh Industries Limited (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Responses, the Authority notes that Alijan Jute Mills Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Alijan/Exporter/the Company”) and Sonali Aansh Industries Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Sonali/Exporter/the Company”) are the related producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Sonali and Alijan have exported the subject goods (13 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Alijan and Sonali have provided the information on PCN basis. Responses of Alijan and Sonali shows that the companies have not made any sales in the domestic market during the POI.
ii. Sonali and Alijan have not made any sales in the domestic market during the POI whereas, Alijan exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn and Sonali exported *** MT of nine of the PCNs of Yarn to India. In case there are no domestic sales, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Alijan and Sonali as a group have been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price iii. It is noted that Alijan exported *** MT of twelve of the PCNs of yarn and Sonali exported *** MT of nine of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the responses filed by Alijan and Sonali. Alijan and Sonali have claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, port and other related expenses, bank charges and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory PUC Weighted Average Normal Value Weighted Average Export Price Dumping Margin Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
(*** ) (*** ) (20) - (10)
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export price for Alijan and Sonali as a group have been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Exporter Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Weighted Average Dumping margin Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Yarn Sonali
*** % 10 – 20 Alijan
*** % 10 – 20 Combined
*** % 10 -20
- Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (Bangladesh) Limited (Producer/Exporter) Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (Bangladesh) Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Nawab/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, Nawab has exported the subject goods (2 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Nawab has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of Nawab shows that the Company has not made any sales in the domestic market during the POI.
ii. Nawab has not made any sales in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of two of the PCNs of Yarn to India. In case there are no domestic sales, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Nawab has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Nawab has exported *** MT of two of the PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Nawab. Nawab has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, C&F, other charges, bank charges and packing cost and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same is mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Normal Value (US$/MT) Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range
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Jute yarn/twine
*** % 0 - 10
- A.M. Jute Industries Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that A.M. Jute Industries Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "AM Jute/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, AM Jute has exported the subject goods (hessian fabric and 5 PCNs of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. A.M. Jute has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of A.M. Jute shows that the Company have sold hessian cloth and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. AM Jute has sold *** MT of hessian cloth and *** MT of five PCNs of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of five PCNs of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the AD Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of sales of jute yarn/twine and *** % sales of hessian fabric were profitable. There were no domestic sales of hessian fabric. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for AM Jute has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that AM Jute has exported *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of five PCNs of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by AM Jute. AM Jute has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
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- Ranu Agro Industries Ltd. (Producer/Exporter)
Normal Value
i.
Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that
Ranu Agro Industries Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Producer/Exporter/the
Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh.
As noted, the company has exported the subject goods (jute sacking bag, jute
sacking cloth and one PCN of yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India.
The producer/exporter has provided information on PCN basis. Response of
producer/exporter shows that the Company has sold jute sacking bag, jute
sacking cloth and one of the PCNs of jute sacking yarn in the domestic market
as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Ranu Agro Industries Limited has sold *** MT of jute sacking bag and *** MT one of the PCNs of jute sacking yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of jute sacking bag, and *** MT one of the PCNs of jute sacking yarn as well to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. It was found that *** % sales of yarn and *** % of sales of sacking bag were profitable. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for jute sacking bag, jute sacking cloth and one of the PCNs of jute sacking yarn has been calculated and the same mentioned in the dumping margin table below. Export Price PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
() ( ) 0 – (10) Hessian Fabric
(*** ) (*** ) 0 – (10)
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iii. It is noted that Ranu Agro Industries Limited has exported *** MT of jute sacking bag and *** MT one of the PCNs of jute sacking yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by producer/exporter. The company has claimed adjustments on account of ocean freight, truck fare/inland transportation, port and other related expenses and packing expenses and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below. PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Ex- Factory Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (%) Dumping Margin Range Sacking bag
0 – 10 Jute yarn/twine
() () (20) – (10)
- Arnu Jute Mills Ltd. (Producer/Exporter) Normal Value i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Arnu Jute Mills Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as "Producer/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Bangladesh. As noted, company has exported the subject goods (sacking cloth) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Producer/exporter has provided the information on PCN basis. Response of producer/exporter shows that the company have sold jute sacking bag and one PCN of the yarn only in the domestic market and jute sacking cloth in the Indian market during the POI.
ii. Arnu Jute Mills Ltd., has sold *** MT of jute sacking bag and *** MT one of the PCN of jute yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of jute sacking cloth to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value for jute sacking cloth has been constructed and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price iii. It is noted that Arnu Jute Mills Ltd., has not exported the PUC to India during the POI. Therefore, the Authority has not determined dumping margin for the exporter.
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Non-Sampled but cooperative category of producers/exporters of Bangladesh
- The Authority has considered the weighted average dumping margin evaluated on the basis of individual dumping margins for the producers/exporters of the sampled category. This weighted average dumping margin is accorded to the non-sampled category of producers/exporters for yarn/twine, hessian fabric and sacking bag and has been mentioned in the table mentioned below. PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
10 - 20 Sacking bag NOT DETERMINED Hessian fabric
Residual/Non-cooperative producers/exporters of Bangladesh
- The Authority has determined the anti-dumping margin for the residual category on the basis of best information available. The dumping margin for non – cooperative producers/exporters is as under:
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
60 - 70 Sacking bag
10 - 20 Hessian fabric
10 - 20
G.3.2. Determination of normal value and export price for all sampled exporters of Nepal
- Arihant Multi-Fibres Ltd. Normal Value
i. Based on the information furnished in the EQ Response, the Authority notes that Arihant multi fibres Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Arihant/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Nepal. As noted, Arihant has exported the subject
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goods (sacking bag, hessian fabric and yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. Arihant has provided the information on PCN basis. The EQ response of Arihant shows that the Company has sold sacking bag, hessian fabric and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Arihant has sold *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti- dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of hessian fabric, *** % of sacking bag and *** % of jute yarn/twine were found to be profitable. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Arihant has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that, Arihant has exported *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Arihant. Arihant has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation which has been allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % (US$/MT) Dumping Margin Range
Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) – 0 Jute sacking bag
() () (10) – 0 Hessian Fabric
() () (10) – 0
- Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. Normal Value
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i. Based on the information furnished in the exporter questionnaire response, the Authority notes that Raghupati (hereinafter, referred to as "Raghupati/Exporter/the Company”) is a producer cum exporter of the subject goods from Nepal. As noted, Arihant has exported the subject goods (sacking bag, hessian fabric and yarn) directly to its unrelated customers in India. It has provided the information on PCN basis. Its response shows that the Company has sold sacking bag, hessian fabric and yarn in the domestic market as well as exported the same to India during the POI.
ii. Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. has sold *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn in the domestic market during the POI whereas, it has exported *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn to India. The Authority has examined whether their sales are made in ordinary course of trade in terms of Annexure I to the Anti-dumping Rules. The domestic sales are in sufficient volumes when compared with exports to India. To determine the normal value, the authority conducted the ordinary course of trade test to determine profit making domestic sales transactions with reference to the cost of production of subject goods. If profit making transactions is more than 80% of the total sales, then all the transactions in the domestic sales has been considered for the determination of normal value and in cases, profitable transactions is less than 80%, only profitable domestic sales have been taken into consideration for the determination of the normal value. In case there is no domestic sales in some of the PCNs, cost plus reasonable profit has been considered for normal value. It was found that *** % of sales of hessian fabric, *** % of sales of jute yarn/twine and *** % of sales of sacking bag were found to be profitable. The Company has claimed all domestic sales are at ex-factory level and does not involve packing cost, the same is allowed by the Authority after verification. Accordingly, the PCN wise normal value at ex-factory level for Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
Export Price
iii. It is noted that Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. has exported *** MT of sacking bag and *** MT of hessian fabric and *** MT of yarn to India during the POI. The Authority has verified the response filed by Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd. It has claimed adjustments on account of inland transportation, and the same is allowed by the Authority. Accordingly, the PCN wise ex-factory export price has been calculated and the same has been mentioned in the dumping margin table below.
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
0 - 10 Sacking bag
() () (10) – 0 Hessian Fabric ***
0 - 10
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iv. The Authority notes that Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd and Arihant Multi-Fibres Ltd. are a group. Accordingly, the following table mentions their normal value, export price and dumping margin as a group:
PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
0 - 10 Sacking bag
() () (10) – 0 Hessian Fabric ***
() () (10) – 0
Non-sampled but cooperative category of producers/exporters of Nepal
The Authority has considered the weighted average dumping margin evaluated on the basis of individual dumping margins for the producers/exporters of the sampled category. This weighted average dumping margin has been accorded to the non-sampled category of producers/exporters for yarn/twine, hessian fabric and sacking bag and has been mentioned in the table mentioned below.
Residual/Non cooperative producers/exporters of Nepal
The Authority has determined the anti-dumping margin for the residual category on the basis of best information available. The dumping margin for non – cooperative producers/exporters are as under: PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT) Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
0 - 10 Sacking bag NOT DETERMINED Hessian Fabric
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PUC Weighted Average Normal Value (US$/MT)
Weighted Average Export Price (US$/MT) Dumping Margin (US$/MT) Dumping Margin % Dumping Margin Range Jute yarn/twine
50 - 60 Sacking bag
40 - 50 Hessian Fabric
20 - 30
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F. EXAMINATION OF INJURY AND LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUATION OR
RECURENCE OF INJURY
F.1 Views of the domestic industry
68. The following submission were made by the domestic industry with regard to injury and causal
link:
i.
The Authority issued final findings in the original anti-dumping investigation of “Jute
Products” originating in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal.20 An anti-subsidy
investigation was also filed against Bangladesh in tandem with the anti-dumping
application due to the significant incentives given to the Bangladeshi producers/exporters.
Pursuant to the consultation between the Authority and the Government of Bangladesh
and on their assurance that the cash subsidies given to its domestic industry would be
reduced, the Authority did not initiate the anti-subsidy investigation. However, the anti-
dumping duties imposed by the Authority have remained lower than the likely
countervailing duty that was needed to address the injury and the injury margin was also
higher.
ii.
The Authority vide final findings in the anti-circumvention investigation extended the
existing anti-dumping duty on sacking bags to imports of jute sacking cloth after it found
that the exporters were circumventing the anti-dumping duty on subject goods by
exporting the cloth and stitching it in India to avoid the duties. Besides benefiting the
domestic industry, imposition of duties would also help in curbing the fraudulent practices
of the exporters.
iii.
The two segments of the jute industry, i.e., government procurement and open market
should be differentiated as was done in the original investigation. The effect of the subject
imports is visible in the open market, where they are competing with the domestic goods.
The government procurement segment is different and is impacted by different factors that
are mutually exclusive to the open market.
iv.
The rate of cash subsidies increased soon after duties were imposed and there was
substantial increase in the cash subsidy being offered on jute sacking bags and hessian
fabric. The Government of Bangladesh has further enhanced the cash subsidies by 2% in
August 2018. As a result of this, the imports of sacking cloth declined, and imports of
sacking bag started again.
v.
Regarding applicability of benefits given to subject exporters, it is submitted that
specificity and incentives offered by a government need not be targeted towards the PUC
only and may be specific towards a particular sector/type of industry/ region as well. These
incentives like the export and domestic subsidy are relevant in an anti-dumping
investigation to the extent of substantiating that it is this government support which is
allowing them to resort to dumping. The ability to sell at lower price can be directly
reflected in these subsidies. The producers/exporters are themselves being aggressive in
targeting the Indian market and are also supported by the government to maintain their
20 Final Findings in Anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of “jute products” viz- Jute Yarn/Twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), Hessian fabric, and Jute sacking bags from Bangladesh and Nepal dated 20th October 2016 F.No. 14/19/2015-DGAD.
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presence vide various measures, and in case duties cease, the Indian industry will be forced
to reduce prices at levels that are significantly below cost. The cash subsidy given to the
exports is contingent on exports and is provided to enable these producers to export. The
rate of cash incentive offered are dedicated to the jute industry, and the background of rate
modifications clearly show that these rates were modified and used in response to
investigations conducted by the Authority. This shows how the exporters are incentivized
and promoted to export. Further, the Government of Bangladesh admitted that India was
and continues to be an important export destination for Bangladesh.
vi.
The applicant is bringing forth the effect of incentives offered by the government merely
to show that the support measures offered are enough to continue exports in significant
volumes at dumped prices as is evident from the data in the POI. These support measures
encouraging
exports
are
directly
related
to
determination
of
likelihood
continued/recurrence of dumping and injury.
vii.
Several new shipper reviews were also conducted and almost all investigations showed
very limited volume of exports by the exporters/producers during the investigation period.
The import prices were also inconsistent in some cases with the contemporary prices for
those products.
viii.
In the DGCI&S import data, the volume of imports is highly understated, and the import
volume is much higher as per market intelligence. This is also evident from the report
published by Government of Bangladesh which shows that exports of jute yarn, twine, jute
sacks, and bags have increased globally and export value to India has also shown
significant increase. The exporter responses also confirm that export volume has increased
over the injury period.
ix.
The impact of subsidized imports on domestic producers as a whole should be examined
by considering macro-economic parameters such as production, capacity utilization, sales,
market share. This is not only well provided under the law, but also a practice of other
countries.
x.
The demand/apparent consumption has increased throughout the injury period, with a
decline in the POI due to the COVID-19. The imports have also increased over the injury
period. Despite the decline in demand since the original investigation period, imports from
Nepal have increased while imports from Bangladesh first declined and then subsequently
have increased.
xi.
The imports are significant in absolute terms and in relation to production and
consumption.
xii.
The adverse effect of imports should be seen on the Indian industry as a whole as there are
a large number of producers in India.
xiii.
The subject imports captured around 12% of the domestic market in the POI of the original
investigation which has further increased to 18% despite imposition of anti-dumping
duties. Market share of the Indian industry has remained at similar levels prevailing during
the POI of the original investigation. The market share of the Indian industry during the
base year of the original investigation (91.2%) has not reached back to those level despite
anti-dumping duties being in place.
xiv.
The low quantum of duty on some producers, exemption granted to some producers, and
exports being made through producers with low duty and not having adequate capacity to
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produce and export are the reasons for continued and aggressive imports from the subject
countries.
xv.
The imports are competing only in the open market and adverse effect of imports is clearly
visible in the open market. The share of imports was 36% in the original investigation,
which has more than doubled to reach 78% in the present POI.
xvi.
The imports from the subject countries are individually as well as collectively undercutting
the prices of the domestic industry. The import price is below the level of cost of sales,
selling price and non-injurious price of the domestic industry. The adverse price impact of
imports could be arrested in view of the anti-dumping duties in place.
xvii.
The production, sales, and capacity utilization of the domestic industry has increased till
2019-20. It has, however, declined sharply in the POI. While some fall in these parameters
can be attributed to the fall in demand, the additional effect has been due to continued
significant imports.
xviii.
The Indian industry was prevented from full recovery as their market share has not reached
back to the levels in the base year of the original investigation. The market share of the
domestic products in the open market where the imported product competes, has reduced
to 19% in the present POI from 65% in the original investigation.
xix.
The adverse impact on profitability has been contained as a result of the duties in place.
The industry was suffering huge losses during the original investigation and is now in
profits because of the duties imposed on the subject goods and, even the price maintained
by the domestic industry is at the cost of losing sale opportunities. However, cash profits,
ROCE and profit before interest have seen a decline in the POI as compared to the previous
year.
xx.
Employment, wages, and productivity per day have declined in the POI along with decline
in production. The domestic industry has registered a negative growth in terms of volume
and price parameters in the POI.
xxi.
The overall performance of the domestic industry had improved up to 2019-20 but it has
declined in the POI. While part of the decline in performance can be attributed to decline
in demand, the rest of the adverse impact is due to imports. The extent of the injury has
remained contained due to the anti-dumping measures in force. The performance of the
domestic industry has improved in terms of prices being fetched and injury to the domestic
industry was contained to that extent in view of duties. However, the persistent incoming
of low-priced imports has prevented the growth of the domestic industry in terms of
production, sale and capacity utilization, while performance declined on these accounts.
The share of the imports in demand, especially in the open market, has increased
significantly. These factors show that domestic industry is vulnerable.
xxii.
Post imposition of duties, the exporters from Bangladesh have engaged in circumvention
practice and imports have continued despite duties and decline in demand. The claim that
there is marked improvement in the performance of the domestic industry is incorrect and
thus it cannot be said that the duties have served its intended purpose.
xxiii.
The continued imposition of anti-dumping measure would prevent enhanced injury to the
industry and arrest the current adverse impact in the performance of the industry. It will
also redress the injury suffered by the industry and enable the domestic producers to remain
viable and competitive.
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xxiv.
It is in the consumers’ interest to have a competitive domestic industry capable of
supplying the product to the consumers in competition to fair priced imports. If the industry
is left to suffer, it would eventually be wiped out by the dumped imports and the consumers
will be left at the mercy of the foreign producers.
xxv.
Imports are competing only in the open market and the demand-supply gap needs to be
seen in reference to the open market as the government procurement market is not available
to imports. There is no demand-supply gap, and the Indian industry has significant
capacities to cater to the local demand in the country. The Indian jute industry is fully
atmanirbhar (self-reliant).
xxvi.
There has been a massive increase in the market share of subject imports in the open market
not just in comparison to the base year of this investigation but even in comparison to the
base year and the POI of the original investigation. The demand in the open market can
easily be catered by the Indian industry but due to the aggressive methods used by
exporters from Bangladesh, the Indian industry has not recovered to the extent needed.
xxvii.
The users would be forced to maintain a higher inventory due to high dependency on the
imports which will not be in the interest of the user industry. Buying locally produced jute
products would allow the users to maintain a lower level of inventories and reduce their
cost.
xxviii.
A high degree of export dependency may lead to exploitation of the user industry by the
exporter. The exporter’s aim is only profit maximization, and they will not hesitate to move
to a more lucrative market if the opportunity arises. The domestic industry, on the other
hand, operates not just for profit maximization but also in the interest of the users and the
country as a whole.
xxix.
The industry has a very high share of indirect employment especially, the jute farmers.
Being one of the largest producers of jute, roughly 4 million farmers are currently engaged
jute production. Cessation of duties would not only cause injury to the producers but also
to the upstream industry as it will severely affect the farmers who depend for their
livelihood on the successful and profitable operations of the domestic industry.
xxx.
The domestic industry has significant capacities and has added more capacities in the past
few years. However, the capacity utilization has remained severely low and there has been
a steep decline not just from the previous year but also from the base year of this
investigation due to dumped imports flooding the Indian market. If duties are not
continued, the dumped imports would continue chipping away the market share of the
domestic industry and it will not be able to justify its PUC capacity and might shut down
its plants.
xxxi.
If the domestic industry is able to maintain the market share and operate efficiently, they
may also plan future investments and grow further. If the domestic industry increases its
production figures in the upcoming years, it will in turn increase its exports which would
help increase the foreign exchange reserves of the country.
xxxii.
There is no exploitation of users or creation of a monopolistic situation as the domestic
industry is a price taker. Continuation of anti-dumping duty would help in reducing the
unfair trade practices of the exporters and create a healthy market that is beneficial for the
whole country.
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xxxiii.
The domestic industry being an exporter of the PUC globally can compete with the exports
from Bangladesh globally in a fair priced market. The domestic industry will be able to
compete with such imports even domestically if a level playing field is provided to them
and extension of duties can make sure that fair competition is prevalent in the Indian
market.
xxxiv.
A major portion of the Indian industry falls in the MSME sector, and they already struggle
to compete with the bigger producers for market share in the Indian market. With low
priced imports flooding the Indian market, these small producers will be forced to shut
down their operations and will be completely wiped out.
xxxv.
The government of Bangladesh extends cash subsidy of an amount anywhere between
7.5% and 12% on the exports of jute products. They have also formulated National Jute
Policy 2018 which includes the scope for creating a fund for modernization of the sector
and promote the export orientation of the exporters in the subject country. The continuation
of duties will reduce the effect of these schemes.
xxxvi.
The local demand in Bangladesh is severely lower than the supply and it is evident that
increasing capacities in the country are not to support the local demand but to enhance the
exports.
xxxvii.
The applicant industry had provided segregated information of sales volume, value, and
price for government procurement and open market. Hence, the statement by the parties
that the applicant industry has not provided the injury information separately for the open
market is wrong and indicates that A.M. Jute Industries Ltd. has not perused through the
entire non-confidential version of the application.
xxxviii.
As regards the argument that imports have declined and that the prices of goods have
increased, it is submitted that the Report published by the Government of Bangladesh
clearly shows that the imports have increased and not decreased. Any under reported
imports in Indian customs data, must be compared with the records of Government of
Bangladesh which shows significantly increasing exports to India.
xxxix.
In reference to arguments that injury and likelihood of injury exists due to other factors,
the Authority must note that this is a sunset review investigation and relevance of causal
link should be accordingly judged.
xl.
Injury caused to the domestic industry due to other factors implies the fragile nature of the
domestic industry and cessation of duty can work as the “last nail in the coffin”. Although
the requirement under law is “a” causal link, the interested parties have wrongly
considered the requirement as “the” causal link.
xli.
The US DOC initiated the original investigation in the matter of Barium Chloride, despite
a decline in demand and there was not even a discussion about injury caused due to decline
in demand.
xlii.
The injury may be seen by the Authority for open and government procurement separately
as imports are competing only in the open market. Import price is significantly low and
cessation of duties is likely to lead to price injury as well.
xliii.
There is no demand-supply gap and the allegation that exports from Bangladesh were due
to demand supply gap in the country and that the exporters have not resorted to price
discrimination is completely baseless. The alleged non-supply in the government sector is
not due to absence of capacities and there is no evidence to show that the Indian industry
was not able to supply due to capacity constraints.
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xliv.
The Indian jute industry cannot be blamed for factors beyond their control. Government
of India has imposed restrictions on import of raw jute and also proscribed purchase of
raw material at the going market price. The industry had to procure the raw material at
prices specified by the Government of India. The ruling price of raw jute is higher than the
price notified by the Government of India. Hence, it is a situation where the raw jute is not
available to the extent of requirement and there is no capacity shortage for the Indian
industry to meet the demand in the government procurement.
xlv.
The domestic industry can import raw jute for the purpose of sale in the open market and
there is no scarcity of raw material for the purpose of production of subject goods in the
open market. Further, the capacity with the domestic industry is grossly underutilized and
there is no demand supply gap warranting imports in the domestic market.
xlvi.
Regarding arguments that there was a clear gap between the production and demand,
segment wise analysis would show that in the open market where the imports are
competing, the domestic industry that has more than sufficient capacity is gradually
heading toward extinction. The Indian market has become “home market” for
producers/exporters from Bangladesh and “foreign market” for Indian industry due to
unfairly priced dumped and subsidized imports.
xlvii.
In reference to statements extracted from Cheviot’s annual report, it should be noted that
price and availability of raw jute concerns government procurement and not open market.
Lack of modernization of the production ecosystem is a forward-looking approach.
Revenue concentration and dependence on Government of India refers to government
procurement and not the open market.
xlviii.
There may be multiple reasons/causes existing at any given time that could be impacting
the operations and/or performance of an industry which only establishes that the industry
is vulnerable and needs redressal against unfairly priced dumped and subsidized imports.
The domestic industry has sought only limited remedy, i.e., the performance being
impacted by the dumped imports are being requested to be remedied. There is a clear causal
link between dumping and likely injury to the domestic industry.
xlix.
Unlike the cases referred, especially the findings in Viscose fibre21, the present case has
very different facts, to rely and state that the Authority despite finding likelihood of
continuation of dumping did not recommend continuation of duties. In the Viscose case,
there was no price or volume effect of imports on the domestic industry and the case merely
stood on likelihood of recurrence of dumping and injury and there was no adverse volume
effect in that case. However, in the instant investigation as, there has been a continued
adverse impact on the volume parameters. The injury on price parameters is contained
because of the anti-dumping duties in place. The margins in the current investigation are
clearly indicative of the dumping margin, injury margin, price undercutting, and cash
subsidy alone. The landed price continues to be below the cost of production, selling price,
and the NIP. Cessation of duties will most definitely result in price depression. Therefore,
there is ample positive evidence in this case that establishes a clear nexus between the
expiry of duty and continuation of recurrence of dumping and injury.
l.
As regards multiple arguments raised by the other interested parties stating orders of the
Office of the Jute Commissioner, and various other steps taken by the Government of
21 Final Findings in Sunset Review of anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of “Viscose Staple Fibre” originating in or exported from China PR and Indonesia dated 31st July 2021, Case No: 31st July 2021, F.No. 7/03/2021-DGTR.
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India, it is submitted that various factors usually compel the Jute Commissioner to place orders much later than as previously planned, leading to accumulation of orders in the jute mills and to ensure the supply of entire order quantity the performance of each jute mill is monitored by the Office of the Jute Commissioner and also, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Whenever few mills are found to be slow in the despatches, the Office of the Jute Commissioner as a measure of abundant caution advises all jute mills to utilize their full sacking capacity for production of B-Twill for government procurement to ensure that planned quantity of jute bags are available at the mandies before actual start of procurement of wheat / paddy / rice. Such orders are normally issued around December for Rabi and around August for Kharif and are normally meant to be effective for 2 months. Mills are directed to give priority during 3-4 months in a year for Government supply. li. The Office of the Jute Commissioner does not prohibit jute mills from supplying to the local market and the producers/mills are free to sell in the open market provided they comply with the orders undertaken for the government supply. lii. The imports of jute goods from Bangladesh/Nepal cannot fill the government demand for food grain bags as the same is not permitted under The Jute Packaging Materials Act, 198722. Imported raw jute is not permitted for manufacturing jute bags for government requirements. The JPM Act was promulgated to provide protection to the jute industry against cheaper substitutes like PP/HDPE bags. The reservation is meant to be given for surplus capacity available with the jute industry for which marketing of jute goods in open market is exhausted. The idea of reservation is not to increase dependence on the mandated sector, but to slowly move towards developing a market of its own. liii. The prices of raw jute for calculation of prices for jute bags supplied to the government is capped and no raw jute is available in the market at that price. Hence, mills have run into deep losses and shut production. liv. 30% raw jute grown in India is of higher grades and can only be used for production of jute goods like hessian/yarn sold in open market. It is unviable for the mills to manufacture jute bags for food grain packing from high grade jute. The manufacturing machinery for hessian/yarn is different and most of the mills in India are designed for manufacturing 30% hessian/yarn and 70% sacking. Anti-dumping duty free imports from Bangladesh and Nepal will force the Indian industry to stop utilizing these capacities. lv. The Office of Jute Commissioner has granted permission time and again for supply of sacking bags sold in the open market for packing food grains, sugar, and pulses. The mills have sold sacking bags in the open market after taking due permission or by completing the government orders for food grain packaging. lvi. The restrictions announced by the Office of the Jute Commissioner to not divert the production of sacking bags other than B-Twill jute bags and the Indian jute mills consequently not being authorized to sell the B-Twill bags in the open market does not apply to such mills which have already fulfilled the allotted B-Twill jute bag orders and supplied them to the government on time. lvii. Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills has admitted that exports have increased, which indicates that the imposition of duties did not have impact on the volume of exports of the PUC. Hence, injury to the industry is reflected only on the price parameters and shows no adverse effect on the volume side. The improvement on price account is because the domestic
22 The Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 Act No. 10 of 1987.
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industry has increased its selling price considering the duties in place. However, it could
not increase its volume, as significant volume of imports has persisted in view of the low
duty to some exporters and exemption given to some others.
lviii.
No evidence was submitted by Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills or the Government of
Bangladesh to substantiate that the availability of raw jute is limited. However, the
domestic industry has provided evidence that raw jute exports are significant and are
declining because of Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to focus on exports of value-
added products. Further, the import volume has increased and the current volume itself is
sufficient to cause injury to the domestic industry.
lix.
The Bangladesh jute industry besides having surplus capacities which any company would
want to utilise and realise in sales instead of letting it remain idle, is also likely to target
India which has significant demand and is attractive for the exporters and admittedly
continues to be the most important destination for them. Further, the submission that mills
closed under BJMC is false, as the website of BJMC which was last updated in July ’21
continues to show capacity and production of 25 mills. Such claims are also misleading as
Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills is referencing to certain public mills that might have been
closed. Further, Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association’s website currently shows that 291
mills are in operation.
lx.
The claim that there may be other major markets other than India is false as they have
admitted in their own submissions that their exports to other markets has only seen a slight
increase.
lxi.
The Brazilian market has been closed to Bangladesh and despite no exports from
Bangladesh to Brazil even after such a long time, the Government of Bangladesh has not
even been participating, nor asking for cessation of these duties. This could be only on two
accounts – either the Government of Bangladesh is aware of the legal position and the fact
the Brazilian Authority would stick by the legal provisions or the market itself is so small
that the Government of Bangladesh does not find export potential. In contrast, the
Government of Bangladesh is aware that the Government of India shall be sympathetic
and is likely to consider concessions under the law given the fact that the market potential
is huge.
lxii.
Despite the various challenges faced by the Government of Bangladesh as has been stated
in submissions, it has managed to increase its exports of jute products during the injury
period as is evident from the export performance data. This increase was also seen in
exports to India.
lxiii.
The ultimate consequence of the Government of Bangladesh’s policy to modernize their
jute industry to head towards a greener economy will be that the industry will become
more cost competitive, giving them the advantage of working in margins that are otherwise
not available with the Indian jute industry.
lxiv.
The duties being sought are not with the intention to hamper the relations but to address a
genuine problem of dumped imports in an industry that is equally vulnerable and fragile if
not more.
lxv.
The margins and consequent duties imposed are based on an equitable and simple
calculation of whether the goods are being dumped. Duties are always imposed
producer/exporter-wise by the authorities based on individual company-wise information
and no duty is imposed on the basis of the categorization of the exporter/producer.
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lxvi.
Although the support given by the Government of Bangladesh is not targeted to the Indian
market, the support nonetheless is being used by the exporters to export goods at cheaper
price to India. There is no requirement under Article 11.3 of the Anti-dumping Agreement
that government actions should be specifically targeted against India.
lxvii.
The duty can be one or different for different product types. There is absolutely no bar on
the Authority on this account.
lxviii.
Despite decline in demand since, the original investigation, the imports from Nepal has
increased. The landed price of Nepal is below the selling price and the NIP of the domestic
industry. The producers in Nepal have de-facto only two markets – Nepal and India and
their domestic demand is quite limited, and their production of subject goods is
significantly higher than their domestic demand.
lxix.
Price undercutting for Nepal is positive and there is significant increase in volume of
imports from the base year, the immediate previous year, or previous investigation injury
period. Further, the examination of impact of imports from Nepal is complete with its
examination of likelihood of dumping and injury. There exists demand-supply gap and
increasing production without simultaneous increase in consumption in Nepal. The current
volume of imports itself is sufficient for determination.
lxx.
It is for the Authority to determine whether the manner of allocation of costs by the
petitioner is reasonable. The domestic industry expresses concern over the statement made
by Nepal Jute Traders Association of India that the costs should be allocated based on the
sales quantity or any other reasonable basis rather than sales revenue.
lxxi.
Price undercutting on an average basis would be skewed and the Authority has observed
the same in the initiation notification. Since, the price differs significantly between
different product types, the average price undercutting cannot be relied upon to make any
conclusion.
lxxii.
The PCN-wise price undercutting is positive, and the observation made with respect to
price undercutting is correct and is a factor indicating likelihood. Further, increase in
imports at dumped and injurious price, when the demand has declined, coupled with the
fact that Indian market is attractive, and there exists excess capacity in Nepal which is
indicative of likelihood of dumping and injury to the domestic industry in the event of
cessation of duties.
lxxiii.
The product type-wise undercutting was positive from Nepal even at the stage of initiation.
The Authority may kindly consider the PCN wise analysis to Indian market and also
consider the volume and value of exports to third countries and determine the likely effect
on prices of the domestic industry.
lxxiv.
Cumulative assessment is not necessary in sunset reviews. According to the WTO panel
on US — Corrosion-Resistant Steel Sunset Review23, Article 3.3 by its own terms is
limited in application to investigations and does not apply to sunset reviews.
F.2 Views of the other interested parties
69. The other interested parties have made the following submissions with regards to injury and
likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury:
23 United States — Sunset Review of Anti-Dumping Duties on Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from Japan WT/DS244/R 14th Agugust 2003.
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i.
As the scope of the PUC for Bangladesh and Nepal differs, it is submitted that
continuation and recurrence of injury should not be cumulatively assessed from
Bangladesh and Nepal.
ii.
Article 3.3 of ADA mandates an analysis of conditions of competition between
imported article and like domestic articles. Factors such as volume of subject goods,
value of subject goods, differences in properties, specifications and quality would
determine whether subject goods imported from a particular country are preferred by
users over like domestic articles.
iii.
The Authority should not resort to cumulative assessment because of the following
factors:
a. The domestic industry has alleged price undercutting by imports, thereby
indicating possibility of recurrence of material injury if anti-dumping duties are
removed. However, such position has been observed only with respect to
imports from Bangladesh only and not for Nepal for which the price
undercutting is negative. The price undercutting for Bangladesh is in the range
of 15-25%.
b. The volume of imports from Bangladesh is also substantially more i.e., 1,11,912
MT during the POI as compared to 66,847 MT from Nepal and therefore,
commands a sizeable market share.
c. The jute twine exported from Nepal is also not comparable to the jute
yarn/twine exported from Bangladesh since it does not fall under the five
PCNs suggested by the Authority.
d. Lastly, the scope of PUC vis-à-vis Nepal and Bangladesh is different. As
Bangladesh was subjected to an anti-circumvention investigation in relation to
sacking cloth whereas Nepal was left out of its ambit, the PUC for Nepal is
restricted to jute yarn/twine, sacking bags and hessian fabric only. However, the
present sunset review investigation against Bangladesh also includes sacking
cloth. As a sequitur, whereas injury to domestic industry is going to be examined
only with respect to jute yarn/twine, sacking bags and hessian fabric from Nepal,
injury to domestic industry from Bangladesh is going to be examined for an
enlarged and different product scope which includes sacking cloth.
e. Since the product scope against which injury to the domestic industry is being
gauged differs between Nepal and Bangladesh, it is not a fit and proper case for
cumulative assessment of imports.
iv. A comparison between the shares of allegedly dumped import in total domestic demand of the PUC during the period of injury of original investigation and the present period of injury shows that despite imposition of anti-dumping duties, the volume of import of the PUC has increased from 9-12% to 11-18% as confirmed by the petitioner in the petition and repeatedly claimed during the oral hearing. v. The export of the PUC from Bangladesh to India is a factor of demand-supply gap situation primarily in the Indian open market and in such a scenario, the exporters
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did not have to adopt any price discrimination methods while exporting the product
to India as alleged.
vi.
The exporters from Bangladesh have helped the Indian user industry to meet the
demands when the Indian producers had failed to ensure adequate supply of the
subject goods especially during the POI and such supplies lack any likelihood of
dumping and injury inherently.
vii.
It may be noted that there was a sharp reduction in the Indian production of the
subject goods during the POI on account of COVID-19 shut downs and the Indian
production declined to 863,656 MT in the POI from a base year level of 1,055,795
MT. However, in the same period, the demand has only declined from 1,203,483 MT
in the base year to 1,010,177 MT and there was clearly a gap of about 146,521 MT
of the subject product as the Indian production could not meet such demand because
of which imports from Bangladesh increased from 98,766 MT in the base year to
111,912 MT in the POI.
viii.
The imports from Bangladesh have declined during the POI from 123,016 MT in
2019-20 to 111,912 MT. At the same time, the export price from Bangladesh has
increased significantly from Rs. 38,834/MT in the 2019-20 to Rs. 81,828/MT during
the POI. This clearly demonstrates that imports from Bangladesh have no bearing on
the economic parameters of the domestic industry.
ix.
Regarding the two separate markets, the Authority should provide the following
information which has not been submitted by the applicant industry:
a. Production reserved for government procurement
b. Quantities available for open market
c. Details of non fulfilment of government procurement orders in last 4
years with reason.
d. Reasons for non-fulfilment of government orders
e. Demand after removing government procurement
f. Price realization from open market and from government procurement.
x.
It is also apparent that the Indian producers had to follow the directions under the
Jute and Jute Textile Control Order 2016 to ensure supplies to the Government of
India which compelled the importers to resort to imported material to meet the
demand.
xi.
The domestic industry has not been able to explain how has it been maintaining its
profitability despite a decline in its volume parameters.
xii.
The Authority should examine the injury caused to the domestic industry due to
government procurement and the impact it has on the ability of the Indian jute
industry to meet the open market requirements.
xiii.
The Indian producers are not vulnerable to imports and are suffering injury on
account of other factors as admitted by them which does not warrant any protection
by way of anti-dumping duty as demanded by them.
xiv.
Annual report of a leading producer of the subject goods in India (Cheviot) shows
that the industry is concerned with issues such as increase in price and non-
availability of raw jute, lack of modernization of the production ecosystem, revenue
concentration and dependence on the Government of India. The imports per se do
not pose any significant concern to them more so when the imports cannot compete
in their major segment which is supplies to the Government of India.
xv.
The trend of imports of the subject goods during the injury period shows the imports
were taking place at fair prices and were not causing any injury to the domestic
industry. Further, it has been admitted that the domestic industry did not suffer any
Page 64 of 122
continued injury. Such a factual position demands rejection of the contention of the
petitioners that they are vulnerable to imports of the subject goods from Bangladesh
in the event of expiry of present duties.
xvi.
The reduction in production, sales and capacity utilization is due to the inability
of the domestic industry to supply freely to the domestic market in India due to
various restrictions imposed by the Government of India from time to time. The
slight dip in production and sales during the POI is reflective of the contraction
in demand due to the inability of the domestic industry to supply to the domestic
market freely. This is evident as Cheviot Company Limited has imported the subject
goods, specifically jute yarn/twine for its SEZ unit due to domestic unavailability.
xvii.
As per the revised and updated information submitted by the domestic industry, no
price undercutting has been observed in case of Nepal. The price undercutting of the
subject imports from Bangladesh is significant i.e., in the range of 15-25%, as per
the data filed by the petitioner for updated POI while price undercutting for the
subject imports from Nepal is negative. There is no price effect on the domestic
industry from the jute twine imported from Nepal as they do not fall under any of the
5 PCNs of jute yarn/twine manufactured by the domestic industry.
xviii.
The landed price of the subject imports from Nepal is higher than Bangladesh in case
of hessian fabric and sacking bags. In the case of jute yarn, the landed price is lower
than that of Bangladesh due to difference in quality and usage of the yarn. Thus, the
imports from Bangladesh have been causing more injury to the petitioners.
xix.
Though the petitioners have not claimed material injury, they have stated that their
market share has declined over the injury period. This is clearly attributable to the
inability of the domestic industry to supply to the domestic market freely and
consequent compulsion of the user industry to import the subject goods from the
subject countries.
xx.
The domestic industry’s position with respect to inventory has improved. It is
relevant to note that similar to production, sales and capacity utilisation,
inventory is also reflective of the fact that the domestic industry was not able to
supply to the domestic market freely inasmuch as while sales have reduced,
inventory has also decreased at the same time because there was sufficient
demand in the domestic market.
xxi.
Productivity per day and number of employees have decreased due to COVID-
19 which had resulted in multiple lockdowns imposed during the POI and had
hampered operations of the domestic industry.
xxii.
While the cost of sales has increased by only 16%, the domestic industry was able to
increase its prices by 26%. However, the profitability of the domestic industry has
reduced during the POI because it was impacted by COVID-19 which affected its
operations and production as well as its inability to sell in the domestic market freely.
xxiii.
With respect to slight decline of production, sales and profitability during the POI,
the Authority must examine the impact of COVID-19 and resultant loss in production
due to the shutdowns.
xxiv.
As admitted by the petitioners, they are not suffering from material injury and
therefore, the subject imports had no impact on the relevant economic parameters
of the domestic industry. Therefore, the question of a causal link between imports
and injury does not arise.
xxv.
The domestic industry has contended that there exists a causal relationship between
the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and likelihood of
continuation or recurrence of injury. However, insofar as the imports from Nepal are
Page 65 of 122
concerned, they are not undercutting the prices of the domestic industry despite the anti-dumping duties not being included in the landed value. Therefore, the possibility of price suppression and depression due to imports from Nepal in a situation wherein antidumping duty is removed, does not exist. xxvi. The various orders from the Office of Jute Commissioner clearly shows that the domestic industry is not able to fulfil the demand of the government procurement sector. Accordingly, they cannot cater to the demand of the open market as well because they can cater to such demand only after fulfilling the demand of the government sector. This clearly shows the demand-supply gap in the open market which is being fulfilled by the imports. xxvii. A critical factor that the Authority needs to examine is whether the domestic industry is able to supply the like article produced by it to the domestic market in (a) adequate quantity and (b) without restrictions. In this regard, the following issues are relevant: a. The various orders made under the Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987 wherein due to shortfall in supply of jute bags by the domestic industry, which has exclusive rights to supply FCI and other government agencies, the same was met by granting relaxation for use of high-density polyethylene or polypropylene (HDPE/PP) bags as per the provisions of the Act. b. The Office of Jute Commissioner has issued an Order dated 9th of September 2021 through which all the domestic producers and members of the petitioner association viz. IJMA have been directed to utilize their entire installed capacity for manufacturing sacking bags for supply to the Government of India. A domestic producer can utilize its capacity to meet other commitments only after fulfilling such commitments and that too after obtaining permission from the Office of Jute Commissioner. The most recent sacking requisition order has been issued by the jute commissioner on 27th January 2022. Therefore, even on the present day, the domestic industry is foreclosed from supplying the like article to the open market. c. Therefore, the domestic industry must establish that they are allowed to supply sacking bags to the domestic market. The permissions obtained from the Office of Jute Commissioner must be filed as evidence with the Authority and be shared with interested parties to establish that the domestic industry is allowed to sell in the domestic market. xxviii. When the domestic industry is not allowed to sell the like article produced by it in the open domestic market and its sales are mostly restricted to a captive market not open to Nepal, the question of injury due to imports from Nepal does not arise. xxix. Furthermore, the yarn exported by Nepal could not have caused any injury to the domestic industry either as it is used to tie the mouths of sacking bags and does not fall within any of the five PCNs framed by the Authority. xxx. If the domestic producers of jute were not allowed to supply the like article during extended periods of the POI, then the imports made within those periods must be excluded from determination of market share since the same would not be competing with sales of the domestic industry during those relevant periods. Consequently, all parameters such as price effect must also be adjusted accordingly. xxxi. Nepal imports nearly 50% of its requirement for raw jute to make jute products which directly benefits India and Indian farmers.
Page 66 of 122
xxxii.
The continuation of anti-dumping duties would only be to the detriment of the raw
jute manufacturers in India and the workers employed by them including users of the
subject goods in the open market who do not have adequate supply of the like article
from the domestic industry.
xxxiii.
On the other hand, no benefit would accrue to the domestic industry as it is either not
able to produce sufficient quantities or restricted from supplying to the domestic
market under the orders of the Office of Jute Commissioner.
xxxiv.
Since Indian jute producers are unable to service the government requirement in
itself, continuation of ADD will only put more stress on the users who have to rely
upon imports.
xxxv.
Indian producers should focus on supplying jute Bags to the Food Corporation of
India since jute producers from Nepal are unable to service this sector upon which
the Indian producers have a complete monopoly.
xxxvi.
Due to non-supply of jute products in time to the Government of India, the Indian
jute mills are not authorized to sell the B-Twill jute products in the open market.
Thus, imports from the subject countries are not at all competing with the goods
produced in India and are, therefore, not causing injury to the domestic industry in
any manner.
xxxvii.
As per letter no. Jute (Econ)/IR/2015 dated 9th July 2015, the Office of the Jute
Commissioner has warned all the jute mills to not supply a single bag to the
Government of India which has been procured from abroad as the Office will not
only black list the respective organizations from supplying to the Government of
India for a period of two years but also initiate criminal proceedings against the
owners and directors of the company. Thus, goods produced by domestic jute mills
are not competing with the goods imported from Bangladesh.
xxxviii.
It is submitted that Indian jute mills have been given exclusive directions to sell the
jute products for government procurement. With the current order from the Office of
Jute Commissioner, No. Jute (Mktg/2/2003) dated 7th February 2017, it is amply
clear that all jute mills are instructed not to supply any jute product in the open
market.
xxxix.
Anti-dumping duty is not meant to be perpetual in nature and considering the facts
of the case, there is not any special/exceptional circumstances exist calling for
continuance of anti-dumping duty. Thus, the anti-dumping duty should not to be
continued and the Authority should terminate the present investigation on the same
grounds.
F.3 Examination by the Authority
70. Rule 11 of the Anti-dumping Rules, read with Annexure II provides that an injury
determination shall involve examination of factors that may indicate injury to the domestic
industry, taking into account all relevant facts, including the volume of dumped imports, their
effect on prices in the domestic market for like article and the consequent effect of such
imports on domestic producers of such articles.
71. Rule 23 of the Rules provides that the provisions of Rule 6,7,8,9,10,11,16,18,19 and 20 shall
apply mutatis mutandis in case of a sunset review. The Authority in its examination has
evaluated the injury parameters which are required under Rules and Annexure II of the Rules
and has also examined as to whether the expiry of duty is likely to lead to continuation or
recurrence of dumping and injury.
Page 67 of 122
- With regards to the several arguments raised by the other interested parties that a cumulative assessment of imports from the subject countries cannot be carried out, the Authority notes that the scope of the PUC remains the same as it was in original investigation as has been mentioned in the appropriate paragraphs above. As far as the volume of imports from the subject countries is concerned, the Authority notes that the volume of imports from both the subject countries is not negligible. Further, the dumping margin with respect to significant imports from subject countries remain above de minimis. Further, the mere fact that price undercutting is positive in respect of one of the subject countries cannot by itself imply that cumulative assessment of the imports cannot be carried out. There exists inter-se competition between the imports and the products can be used interchangeably.
- The Authority notes the submissions made by the interested parties regarding the exclusion of non-dumped imports from injury analysis. The Authority has accordingly segregated the data of imports from the subject countries and has considered the effect of dumped imports for injury analysis. It is noted that despite segregation, the trends in various injury parameters largely remain the same. Country Volume (MT)
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2020-21 (dumped imports) Bangladesh
Total imports 98,766 88,256 1,23,016 1,11,912
Hessian Fabric 766 933 1,124 921 305 Sacking Bag 1,766 7,013 17,506 23,115
19,616 Yarn 44,491 45,331 55,804 61,364 45,273 Sacking Cloth 51,742 34,981 48,582 26,512
Subtotal (excluding cloth) 47,024 53,276 74,434 85,400
Subtotal (excluding cloth) (excluding non-dumped imports) 65,194 Nepal
Total imports 34,102 36,594 47,503 66,847
Hessian 12,366 14,697 21,860 32,304 25,792 Sacking Bag 16,261 18,313 22,214 27,606 11,079 Yarn 5,475 3,583 3,269 6,937 6,862 Sacking Cloth
160
Subtotal (excluding cloth) 34,102 36,594 47,503 66,847
Subtotal (excluding cloth) (excluding non-dumped imports) 43,733 Subject Countries Total 1,32,868 1,24,850 1,70,519 1,78,758
- It is noted that various interested parties have made several submissions regarding government restrictions on the supply of jute sacking bags, as well as the inability of the Indian industry to supply in the open market. The Authority has noted from the segregated capacity for the three product types provided by the applicant at the industry level that the capacity for all the
Page 68 of 122
types remains underutilised. It has further been clarified that the notifications published by the
Jute Commissioner are meant to maintain adequate supply in the market meant for government
production. The Jute Commissioner grants permission regularly for supply of sacking bags
sold in the open market for packing food grains, sugar, and pulses, and accordingly, the mills
have then sold the sacking bags in the open market upon receiving due permission or
completion of government orders. In any case, it has also been informed to the Authority that
the restrictions issued by the Office of the Jute Commissioner do not apply to such mills that
have completed their allotted B-Twill orders to the government on time.
75. The Authority notes that the Indian jute industry indeed cannot meet the entire requirement of
sacking bags as required for food grain packaging. It is, however, noted that (a) the capacity
deployed for the production of sacking bag for government procurement is different from the
facilities required for production of jute products in the open market, and (b) the domestic
industry is unable to produce more in this segment for want of raw jute (either availability or
price), and not because of absence of capacities, (c) the raw jute available in the country is
also used for the production of other jute products which are not consumed by way of
government procurement and is only sold in the open market. The Authority undertook a visit
to IJMA to understand the issue of government procurement. During the said visit, it was
observed by the Authority that there were dedicated capacities to cater to open market. The
kind of spindles required for making yarn for open market are totally different from the kind
of spindles used for manufacturing for the purpose of government procurement. Similarly, the
kind of looms required for weaving yarn for open market are totally different from the looms
required for weaving yarn for the purpose of government procurement.
76. With regards to the submissions made by the other interested parties contending that the
imports are a result of a demand-supply gap in the country, the Authority notes that the
existence of a demand-supply gap cannot be a justification for exporting goods at dumped
prices from the subject countries.
77. With regard to the volume effect of the dumped imports, the Authority is required to examine
whether there has been a significant increase in the dumped imports, either in absolute terms
or relative to production or consumption in India. For examining price effect of dumped
imports, the Authority investigates whether there has been a significant price undercutting by
the dumped imports as compared to the price of the like article in India, or whether the effect
of such imports is otherwise to depress the prices to a significant degree, or prevent price
increases, which would have otherwise occurred to a significant degree.
78. For the examination of the impact of the dumped imports on the domestic industry in India,
indices having a bearing on the state of the industry such as production, capacity, utilization,
sales volume, inventory, profitability, net sales realization, the magnitude and margin of
dumping, etc. have been considered in accordance with Annexure II of the Anti-Dumping
Rules. The injury analysis made by the Authority hereunder addresses the various submissions
made.
I. Volume Effect of Dumped Imports of the Domestic Industry
Page 69 of 122
a) Assessment of Demand
79. The demand or apparent consumption of the product in India has been determined as the sum
of domestic sales of the Indian producers and imports from all sources. For the purpose of
injury analysis, the Authority has relied on the transaction-wise import data procured from the
DGCI&S. Further, the Authority has examined and included imports of sacking cloth into the
volume of imports. Further, as has been noted in the original investigation and in the present
investigation as well, that since a substantial share of the demand is in the segment where the
government procures jute sacking bag, as against the open market where the imports compete,
therefore the Authority for the purposes of assessment of demand, has also segregated the
demand calculated in a similar manner.
80. The Authority has also analysed the effect of only dumped imports in the below mentioned
tables. It is noted that the trends portray largely a similar picture as total imports.
Demand
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2020-21
(dumped
imports)
Sales of Domestic
Industry (domestic sales
only)
MT
Trend Index 100 104 109 93 93 Sales of Other Indian Producers MT
Trend Index 100 95 95 76 76 Subject country-Imports MT 81,126 89,869 1,21,777 1,52,247 1,08,926 Subject country – non- dumped imports MT
43,951 Other Countries-Imports MT 627 98 1,999 7,741 7741 Total demand/consumption MT 11,22,438 11,02,622 11,50,789 9,92,042 9,92,042 Sacking Cloth – Bangladesh MT 51,742 34,981 48,582 26,512 26,512 Sacking Cloth – Domestic Industry Sales MT
Trend Index 100 153 268 66 66
Demand (Open market) Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2020-21 (dumped imports) Sales of Domestic Industry (domestic sales only) MT
Page 70 of 122
Trend
100
102
93
84
84
Sales of Other Indian
Producers
MT
Trend
100 65 45 45 45 Subject country- Imports MT 81,126 89,869 1,21,777 1,52,247 1,08,926 Subject country – non-dumped imports
43,951 Other Countries- Imports MT 627 98 1,999 7,741 7,741 Total demand/consumption MT 3,23,072 2,72,450 2,62,511 2,95,701 2,95,701
Demand (Government Procurement) Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 Sales of Domestic Industry to Govt. MT
Trend
100 103 115 94 Sales of Other Indian Producers to Govt. MT
Trend
100 103 110 85 Total demand/consumption MT 7,99,366 8,30,172 8,88,278 6,96,341
- It is seen that the demand for the subject goods including both government procurement and
the open market has registered a slight decline from the base year and the previous year. In
terms of the demand segregated for government procurement, it is seen that the fluctuation in
demand in this segment has been in the same range with no major changes. In the demand
available for the open market, wherein subject imports compete with the goods being sold by
the domestic industry, it is seen that demand has declined in the POI compared to both
previous year and the base year.
b) Import Volumes and Market Share - With regard to the volume of the dumped imports, the Authority is required to consider whether there has been a significant increase in dumped imports, either in absolute terms or relative to production or consumption in India. The import volumes of the subject goods from the subject countries and share of the dumped imports during the injury investigation period are as follows:
Open market
Particulars Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 POI (Dumpe d Imports) Import Volume
Bangladesh MT 47,024 53,276 74,434 85,400 65,194
Page 71 of 122
Nepal MT 34,102 36,594 47,343 66,847 43,733 Subject Countries MT 81,126 89,869 1,21,777 1,52,247 1,08,927 Other Countries MT 627 98 1,999 7,741
Total Imports MT 81,753 89,967 1,23,776 1,59,988
Subject imports in relation to
Indian Production % 7.60 8.67 11.61 17.77 12.71
Trend
100 114 153 234
Demand (Open Market) % 25 33 46 51 37 Trend
100 131 185 205
Sacking Cloth -
Bangladesh
MT
51,742
34,981
48,582
26,512
Market Share in Demand in India Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 POI (Dumpe d Import) Market Share in Demand (including government procurement)
Sales of the domestic industry %
Trend
100 105 105 105
Sales of Other Indian industry %
Trend
100 98 94 88
Market Share in Demand (excluding government procurement)
Sales of the domestic industry %
Trend
100 125 112 99
Sales of other Indian industry %
Trend Index 100 80 55 53
Subject countries -
imports
%
35
40
54
55
43
Other countries - imports
%
0.17
0.03
0.63
1.3
3
- The absolute volume of imports from the subject countries, has increased in the POI compared to the base year as well as the previous year. Imports in the POI of present investigation is higher than the volume registered in the POI of the original investigation and much higher as compared to the base year of previous investigation. It is seen that imports of jute products from the subject countries have increased in both absolute terms as also in relation to production and consumption in India and has remained consistently significant over the injury period. These trends exist despite the extant anti-dumping duty. The volume of imports of jute products has increased significantly in the POI, in both absolute terms and in relation to the production and consumption in India.
Page 72 of 122
- The Authority notes that the imports entering into India only compete in the open market as the segment for government procurement does not allow the procurement of imported sacking bag. Therefore, a cumulative assessment of market share including both government procurement and open market would not be representative of current scenario in the Indian market. Therefore, the Authority for the purposes of assessing the impact and/or continued impact of subject imports has also considered the markets share calculated for the open market i.e., excluding government procurement. It is seen that the open market in the POI is largely dominated by the subject imports, with only a meagre share with the domestic industry. The market share of imports in the base year was half as compared to the share taken over in the POI.
- The Authority after examining the comments of the interested parties regarding impact on the domestic industry in the government procurement segment and open market, has to the extent possible, conducted a segregated analysis of the both the segments. The Authority concerns itself only to the extent it affects the performance of the domestic industry and is interlinked with imports competing in the open market. The government procurement market is not affected by the subject imports.
- As regards the submissions made by the interested parties with respect to the absence of
continued injury, the Authority notes that the domestic industry has also not claimed the same.
However, the domestic industry has argued that it has clearly suffered adverse volume effect
despite the current anti-dumping duty being in place, as the share of imports in the open market
has surged from 9 % in the base year of the original investigation to 12% in the POI of the
original investigation which has further increased to 18% in the current POI.
II. Price Effect - The impact on the prices of the domestic industry on account of the dumped imports from the
subject country has been examined with reference to the price undercutting, price suppression
and price depression, if any. For the purpose of this analysis, the cost of production and net
sales realization (NSR) of the domestic industry have been compared with the landed price of
imports of the subject goods from the subject countries. The Authority takes note of the fact
that there exists a difference in the cost and price associated with different PCNs. Therefore,
the Authority has considered weighted average to examine the price effect in terms of price
undercutting, price suppression and depression.
a) Price Undercutting - With regard to the effect of the dumped imports on prices, it is required to be analysed whether
there has been a significant price undercutting by the dumped imports as compared to the price
of the like products in India, or whether the effect of such imports is otherwise to depress the
prices or prevent price increases, which otherwise would have occurred in the normal course.
Product: Hessian
Subject Country: Bangladesh
Page 73 of 122
SN
Particulars
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
POI
(Dumped
Imports)
1
Import volume
MT
766
933
1,124
921
305
2
Landed price
Rs/MT
82,075
66,382
50,600
1,12,435
1,10,756
3
Selling price
Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 101 109 134 134 4 Price undercutting Rs/MT
Trend
Index
100
165
241
94
5 Price undercutting %
Range
20 -30 30 - 40 50 - 60 20 -30 20-30
Product: Sacking
Subject Country: Bangladesh
SN Particulars Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 POI (Dumped Imports) 1 Import volume MT 1,766 7,013 17,506 23,115 19,616 2 Landed price Rs/MT 61,150 48,564 55,283 78,237 77,043 3 Selling price Rs/MT
Trend
Index
100
106
115
128
128
4
Price undercutting
Rs/MT
Trend
Index
100
253
252
128
5 Price undercutting %
Range
10 – 20 30 - 40 30 – 40 10 - 20 10 - 20
Product: Yarn
Subject Country: Bangladesh
SN
Particulars
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
POI
(Dumpe
d
Imports)
1
Import volume
MT
44,491
45,331
55,804
61,364
45,273
2
Landed price
Rs/MT
63,619
44,245
39,117
88,506
87,824
3
Selling price
Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 101 109 134 134 4 Price undercutting Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 202 217 (167)
5 Price undercutting %
() ()
Range
20 - 30 40 – 50 40 – 50 (10) - 0 (10) - 0
Product: Hessian
Subject Country: Nepal
Page 74 of 122
SN
Particulars
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
POI
(Dumped
Imports)
1
Import volume
MT
12,366
14,697
21,860
32,304
25,792
2
Landed price
Rs/MT
91,353
74,237
50,169
1,21,225
1,19,132
3
Selling price
Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 101 109 134 134 4 Price undercutting Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 213 416 143
5 Price undercutting %
Range
10 -20 30 – 40 50 - 60 10 - 20 20 - 30
Product: Sacking
Subject Country: Nepal
SN
Particulars
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
POI
(Dumpe
d
Imports)
1
Import volume
MT
16,261
18,313
22,374
27,606
11,079
2
Landed price
Rs/MT
67,077
44,663
34,879
85,956
85,283
3
Selling price
Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 105 114 127 127 4 Price undercutting Rs/MT
Trend Index 100 631 958 124
5 Price undercutting %
Range
0 -10 40 - 50 50 – 60 0 - 10 0 - 10
Product: Yarn
Subject Country: Nepal
S N Particulars Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 POI (Dumpe d Imports) 1 Import volume MT 5,475 3,583 3,269 6,937 6862 2 Landed price Rs/M T 49,601 39,231 28,017 75,005 75068 3 Selling price Rs/M T
Trend Index 100 97 94 105
4 Price undercutting Rs/M T
Trend Index 100 127 155 34
5 Price undercutting %
Range
30 – 40 40 - 50 60 -70 10 - 20 10 - 20
Page 75 of 122
- It is seen that the landed price of imports without anti-dumping duty is below the selling price
of the domestic industry and are, therefore, undercutting the prices of the domestic industry.
Price undercutting is significantly positive in case of both jute products from the subject
countries for dumped imports.
b) Price Suppression and Depression - In order to assess as to whether imports from the subject countries were
suppressing/depressing the prices of the domestic industry and whether the effect of such
imports is to suppress prices to a significant degree or prevent price increases which otherwise
would have occurred to a significant degree, the Authority has compared the cost of production
and the net selling price of the domestic industry over the injury period along with the landed
price of imports over the injury period, and shown in the table below:
S N Particulars (including government procurement) Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 POI POI (Dumpe d Import) 1 Cost of Sales per unit Domestic Sales Rs/MT
2 Trend Index 100 103 110 127 127 3 Selling Price Per unit - Domestic Sales Rs/MT
4 Trend Index 100 104 110 125 125 5 Landed price Rs/MT 58,802 42,364 38,834 81,828 84687
SN Particulars (Open market only) Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019- 20 POI POI (Dumped Import) 1 Cost of Sales per unit Domestic Sales Rs/MT
2 Trend Index 100 98 103 127 127 3 Selling Price Per unit
- Domestic Sales (excluding excise duty or GST Whichever is applicable) Rs/MT
4 Trend Index 100 94 104 117 117 5 Landed price Rs/MT 58,802 42,364 38,834 81,828 84687
- It is seen that, both, the cost of sales and the selling price has increased over the injury period. The increase in selling price is in the same range as the increase in cost. However, it is noted that the import price is below the level of cost of sales, selling price and non-injurious price of the domestic industry. It is further noted that considering the price at which goods are being
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imported, it is likely that cessation of duties will lead to continuation of price depression and
suppression in the domestic industry.
III. Economic Parameters of the domestic industry
92. Annexure II to the AD Rules requires that the determination of injury shall involve an
objective examination of the consequent impact of dumped imports on the domestic producers
of such products. With regard to the consequent impact of dumped imports on the domestic
producers of such products, the AD Rules further provide that the examination of the impact
of the dumped imports on the domestic industry should include an objective and unbiased
evaluation of all relevant economic facts and indices having a bearing on the state of the
industry, including actual and potential decline in sales, profits, output, market share,
productivity, return on investments or utilization of capacity, factors affecting domestic prices,
the magnitude of the margin of dumping, actual and potential negative effects on cash flow,
inventories, employment, wages, growth, ability to raise capital investments. The Authority
has examined the injury parameters objectively considering various facts and submissions
made.
a) Production, Capacity, Capacity Utilization and Sales
93. Capacity, production, sales, and capacity utilization of the domestic industry over the injury
period is given in the following table:
Capacity, Production, capacity utilisation of the domestic industry
Open market only
S.No.
Particulars
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
POI
1
Installed Capacity
MT
Trend Index 100 100 100 100 2 Production Quantity- PUC MT
Trend Index 100 103 107 93 3 Capacity Utilisation %
Trend Index 100 103 107 93 4 Sales of Domestic Industry (including exports) MT
Trend Index 100 103 107 93
- It is noted that:
i. The capacity of the domestic industry has remained consistent. The total capacity of the Indian jute industry was also submitted to the Authority during the verification of the Indian jute industry. It is seen that the total capacity with the industry is sufficient to the meet the Indian demand.
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ii. The production and sales parameters also portray a trend similar to capacity trends.
It is, however, noted that such stagnant figures in capacity and production are
despite extant anti-dumping duties. As has been noted above, a large portion of the
market remains with the subject imports, which is inhibiting the domestic industry
from increasing its capacity and other parameters thereon.
iii. Capacity utilization has declined significantly in the POI. Infact, it is seen that the
capacity utilisation of the domestic industry is only 10% above the utilisation
registered in the POI of the original investigation. It is, further, noted that there is
idle capacity available with the domestic industry. Some decline in capacity
utilization is attributable to the decline in demand.
iv. As has been noted in the abovementioned paras, six supporters have submitted
information before the Authority along with supporting documents. The Authority
has taken cognizance of the data received, and has analysed the same in order to
examine whether the data of these supporters exhibits a similar trend as that of the
domestic industry. The information for the six supporters is as follows:
SN Particulars UOM 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 POI 1 Installed Capacity MT
Trend Index 100 100 100 100 2 Production Quantity- PUC MT
Trend Index 100 101 100 80 3 Capacity Utilisation %
Trend Index 100 101 100 81 4 Domestic Sales MT
Trend Index 100 98 81 74
v. It is seen that utilisation for other producers has declined over the period, it is also seen that sales of these producers in the open market have also seen a severe decline. vi. During its visit to IJMA, the Authority had found that there is dedicated machinery for government procurement as well as open market. The machinery dedicated for sacking bag is also different for government market and open market. It is noted that if the open market is completely foreclosed for the Indian jute mills, then the machinery dedicated for producing the goods for open market would become redundant as well.
b) Capacity and capacity utilisation of the Indian industry
95. Further, the Authority has also examined the capacity, production, and capacity utilization of
the Indian industry for the POI, as is given in the following table:
SN
Particular
Capacity (MT)
Production
(MT)
Capacity Utilisation
(%)
1
Yarn
1,20,000
61,300
51.08
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SN Particular Capacity (MT) Production (MT) Capacity Utilisation (%) 2 Sacking 10,00,000 7,39,200 73.92 3 Hessian 2,00,000 1,18,400 59.2
- From the above information, it is evident that products that are dedicated and sold solely in the open market i.e., yarn and hessian fabric have a significantly low-capacity utilisation level as against the product types (sacking bag) which are being sold in the government procurement market. Therefore, the Authority notes, that in the open market, where the domestically produced goods are competing with imports, the industry has registered a low utilisation. c) Profitability, Return on Investment and Cash Flow
- The return on investment, profit/loss before and after interest, return on investment and cash
profit during the injury period is as indicated in the table below:
SN Particulars (including Government Procurement) UOM 2017-18
2018-19 2019-20 POI
1 PBT - Domestic Sales Rs. /MT
Trend Index 100 117 109 96 2 Total Profit before tax - Domestic Sales Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 120 118 87 3 Cash Profits Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 112 113 95 4 Return on Capital Employed %
Trend Index 100 104 91 67
SN Particulars (only government
market)
UOM
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 POI
1
PBT per unit -Domestic Sales
Rs. /MT
Trend Index 100 150 74 200 2 Total Profit before tax (Domestic Sales Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 156 83 164 3 Cash Profits Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 130 96 133 4 Capital Employed Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 120 153 145
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5 Return on Capital Employed %
Trend Index 100 128 78 143
SN
Particulars (only open market
sales of sacking)
UOM
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
POI
1
PBT per unit -Domestic Sales
Rs. /MT
Trend Index 100 57 180 70 2 Total Profit before tax - Domestic Sales Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 59 142 67 3 Cash Profits Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 62 136 71 4 Capital Employed Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 120 91 122 5 Return on Capital Employed %
Trend Index 100 51 150 57
SN
Particulars (only
open market sales
of all products)
UOM
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
POI
1 PBT per unit -
Domestic Sales
Rs. /MT
(***)
(***)
Trend Index 100 (6) 130 (124) 2 Total Profit before tax - Domestic Sales Rs. Lacs
(***)
(***)
Trend Index 100 (6) 121 (105) 3 Cash Profits Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 46 104 5 4 Capital Employed Rs. Lacs
Trend Index 100 111 112 140 5 Return Capital Employed %
(***)
Trend Index 100 17 106 (38)
- It is seen that:
(i) The domestic industry has mostly been able to maintain its profits, cash profits and
return on investment due to imposition of duties on the subject countries.
(ii) Further, the domestic industry was also able to maintain its performance in these parameters, as it maintained its prices even at the cost of low-priced subject imports.
(iii)Profits before interest, cash profits, ROI have followed the same trend. (iv) The Authority has also calculated profitability separately for the open market and government procurement. A separate analysis of the two markets, however shows that
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the trends noted above are due to prices being secure in the government procurement.
The domestic industry, however, due to unfair competition from subject imports has
seen a significant decline in profitability in sales being made in the open market.
d) Market Share in Demand
99. Market share of the domestic industry in demand for the product under consideration is given
in the table below:
SN Demand (including
government market)
Unit
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
1
Sales of Domestic Industry
MT
*** %
*** %
*** %
*** %
Trend Index 100 106 107 105 2 Sales of Other Indian Producers MT *** % *** % *** % *** %
Trend Index 100 97 93 86 3 Subject country-Imports MT 7.23% 8.15% 10.58% 15.35% 4 Other Countries-Imports MT 0.06% 0.01% 0.17% 0.78% 5 Total demand/consumption MT 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
SN Market Share in Open market Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 1 Sales of domestic industry MT *** % *** % *** % *** %
Trend Index 100 125 115 96 2 Sales of Other Indian producers % *** % *** %
% *** %
Trend Index 100 78 56 50 3 Subject country-Imports % 25.11% 32.99% 46.39% 51.49% 4 Other Countries-Imports % 0.19% 0.04% 0.76% 2.62% SN Market Share in Government Procurement Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 1 Sales of domestic industry MT *** % *** % *** % *** %
Trend Index 100 125 112 97 2 Sales of Other Indian producers % *** % *** % *** % *** %
Trend Index 100 91 76 93
- It is seen that the open market in the POI has been largely dominated by the subject imports. The share of the subject imports in the open market has increased significantly over the injury period, with only a declining and minority share with the domestic industry. The Indian industry is facing unutilised capacities, however, at the same time, the market share of imports has increased by 57% over the injury period.
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- It is also seen that the domestic industry has sufficient capacities to meet the Indian demand despite which it has been operating on underutilised capacities. e) Employment, and Productivity
- The analysis of the number of employees employed by the domestic industry, its productivity
shows as follows:
SN Particulars UOM 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 POI 1 No. of Employees Nos
Trend Index 100 99 105 94 2 Productivity per day MT/day
Trend Index 100 102 104 88
- Employment have declined in the POI. Productivity per day has also declined in POI with
decline in production and number of employees.
f) Inventories - Inventory position with the domestic industry over the injury period is given in the table
below:
SN Inventory Unit 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 1 Opening Stock MT
Trend Index 100 92 85 68 2 Closing Stock MT
Trend Index 100 92 73 75 3 Average Stock MT
Trend Index 100 92 79 71
- The level of inventories with the domestic industry has declined since 2019-20. g) Growth
- The growth of the domestic industry in terms of market share, capacity utilisation,
profitability, cash profit and ROCE has been negative in the POI, in the open market.
However, it is noted that the adverse impact registered in the POI on the domestic industry is
still seen to have been contained due to anti-dumping duties currently imposed.
h) Factors affecting domestic prices - The examination of the import prices from the subject countries, change in the cost structure, competition in the domestic market, factors other than dumped imports that might be affecting the prices of the domestic industry in the domestic market, etc. shows that the landed value of the subject goods from the subject countries is below the selling price of the domestic industry, NIP and cost of sales in the POI. The demand for the subject goods remains significant. The
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price of imported goods is below the net sales realization, cost of production and also below
the non-injurious price of the domestic industry.
i) Magnitude of Dumping Margin
108. The dumping margin determined against the subject countries is above the de-minimis level
and significant for several exporters/producers.
IV. Injury Margin/ Price underselling
109. The Authority has determined non-injurious price (NIP) for the domestic industry on the basis
of the principles laid down in the AD Rules read with Annexure III, as amended. The non-
injurious price of the PUC has been determined by adopting the information/data relating to
the cost of production provided by the domestic industry and duly certified by the practicing
cost accountant for the period of investigation. The non-injurious price has been considered
for comparing the landed price of each PCN from the subject countries for calculating the
injury margin. For determining the non-injurious price, the best utilisation of the raw materials
by the domestic industry over the injury period has been considered. The same treatment has
been carried out with the utilities. The best utilization of production capacity over the injury
period has been considered. It is ensured that no extraordinary or non-recurring expenses were
charged to the cost of production. A reasonable return (pre-tax @ 22%) on average capital
employed (i.e., average net fixed assets plus average working capital) for the product under
consideration was allowed as pre-tax profit to arrive at the non-injurious price as prescribed
in Annexure III of the AD Rules.
110. Based on the landed price and NIP determined as above, the injury margin for
producers/exporters as determined by the Authority is provided in the table below:
S.No
PUC
Landed
Value
(US$/MT)
Non-injurious
price
(US$/MT)
Injury
Margin
(US$/MT)
Injury
Margin
%
Injury
Margin
Range
A.
Bangladesh
I.
Sampled producers/exporters of Bangladesh
1.
Bogra Jute Mills Ltd.
a.
Jute yarn/twine
() () (20) – (10) b. Sacking bag
()
()
(10) – 0
2.
A.M. Jute Industries
a.
Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 b. Hessian Fabric
10 – 20
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Hasan Jute Mills a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 b. Sacking bag
10 – 20 4. Ranu Agro Industries Ltd. a. Jute yarn/twine
() () (30) – (20) b. Sacking bag
10 – 20 5. Rabeya Jute Mill a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 b. Sacking bag
() () (10) – 0 c. Hessian fabric
0 - 10 6. Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd. a. Hessian fabric
20 – 30 7. Mouna Jute Mills Ltd. a. Jute yarn/twine
10 – 20 8. Alijan Jute Mills Limited a. Jute yarn/twine
0 -10 9. Sonali Aansh Industries Limited a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 9A. Sonali Aansh Industries and Alijan Jute Mills (as a group) a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 10. Sidlaw Textiles Ltd. a. Jute yarn/twine
10 – 20 11. Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Ltd. a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 11 A. Sagar Jute Spinning Mills and Sidlaw Textiles (as a group) a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 12. Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (Bangladesh) Limited a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10
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II. Non-sampled but cooperative producers/exporters of Bangladesh a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 b. Sacking bag
10 – 20 c. Hessian Fabric
20 – 30 III. Non-cooperative/Residual producers/exporters of Bangladesh a. Jute yarn/twine
70-80 b. Sacking bag
10 - 20 c. Hessian Fabric
20 -30 B. Nepal I. Sampled producers/exporters of Nepal 1. Arihant Multi-fibres Ltd. a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10 b. Sacking bag
0 – 10 c. Hessian Fabric
0 – 10
2.
Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd.
a.
Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) – 0 b. Sacking bag
0 – 10 c. Hessian Fabric
10 – 20 2A. Arihant Multi-fibres and Shree Raghupati Jute Mills (as a group) a. Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) - 0 b. Sacking bag
0 – 10 c. Hessian Fabric
10 -20 II. Non-sampled but cooperative producers/exporters of Nepal a. Jute yarn/twine
() () (10) - 0 b. Sacking bag
0 – 10 c. Hessian fabric
10 -20 III. Non-cooperative/Residual producers/exporters of Nepal a. Jute yarn/twine
0 – 10
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b. Sacking bag
0 – 10 c. Hessian Fabric
10 – 20
G. CAUSAL LINK AND OTHER FACTORS (NON-ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS)
111. The Authority examined whether other factors listed under the AD Rules could have caused
injury to the domestic industry.
a. Volume and value of imports not sold at dumping prices
112. Imports from other countries are not significant in volume or their prices are higher.
b. Contraction in demand or changes in the pattern of consumption
113. Demand for the product under consideration has registered a decline in the POI. However, it
is noted that demand continues to remain significant. The pattern of consumption with regard
to the product under consideration has also not undergone any change.
c. Trade restrictive practices of and competition between the foreign and domestic
producers
114. There is no known trade restrictive practice.
d. Developments in Technology
115. Technology for production of the product has not undergone any change nor is any change
likely in the foreseeable future.
e. Export Performance
116. The applicant companies export the PUC. However, their export volume is not significant.
Injury information has been segregated and, therefore, it could not be the factor responsible
for injury claimed by the domestic industry.
Conclusions on continuation of injury and causal link: 117. The following conclusions have been reached from the above analysis: a. It is noted that the volume of dumped imports from the subject countries remains significant despite the imposition of ADD. b. There is adverse price effect leading to price undercutting, price depression and price suppression to the domestic industry because of dumped imports.
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c. With regard to the impact of the prices of the dumped imports to the domestic industry, it is noted that the market share of the domestic industry has marginally declined while the market share of imports of subject goods from the subject countries has significantly increased. d. It is also noted that the production, capacity utilization and domestic sales has declined during the POI as compared to base year. e. With regards to profitability, it is noted that that there is a marginal decline in the profits, cash profits and the ROCE during the POI as compared to base year.
H. LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUATION OR RECURRENCE OF DUMPING AND
INJURY
118. The Authority notes that this is a sunset review investigation. The domestic industry has
claimed that it is not suffering from any continued injury and that it is likely to suffer injury
in the event of cessation of anti-dumping duty. Accordingly, the Authority has examined the
likely scenario of continuation of dumping and recurrence of injury on account of dumped
imports, if anti-dumping duty is allowed to expire.
H.1 Views of the domestic industry
- The following submission were made by the domestic industry with regard to likelihood of
continuation or recurrence of injury and dumping:
i. Routing of exports via exporters having lower duty has become a norm. The possibility of such exporters have been exporting the subject product beyond their own capacities and this possibility cannot be ruled out.
ii. The Bangladesh jute industry stands at the 4th position in terms of export earnings for the country and jute yarn and twine has registered an export growth of 41.61% during FY 2020 – 21 according to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh. The circumvention practices, multiple new shipper reviews, continuous intervention of the Government of Bangladesh on this WTO compatible trade remedies since the original investigation demonstrates the importance of the product as well as the Indian market for Bangladesh’s industry and its government. iii. Imports have remained significant despite sufficient Indian capacities and anti-dumping duty in place. The exporters have even attempted circumvention of the existing duties.
iv. The exporters are likely to cause enhanced injury to the domestic industry even while running in reduced capacities. According to the statements given by the Chairman of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, the mills that were running below capacity are likely to increase capacity utilization and are also expanding capacities for weaving and spinning by
v. Significant capacity is available with the producers in the subject countries, and they are also capable of scaling up production in a short period. Further, the exporters have significant under-utilized capacity. Based on the standard norms, it would be seen that while installed capacity is at 12,77,562 MT, the industry has an excess/unoperated capacity of 7,74,966 MT.
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vi. Indian market remains attractive for the exporters especially since the global surge in
demand seen is for jute bags in the gift sector and not in the agricultural sector. The
consumption in the gift segment is limited, thus, leading to limited production as well. It
would also be seen from Bangladesh’s export data of other jute diversified jute products,
that the total value of exports is a meagre Rs. 24 crores, as opposed to the Indian demand
of the product under consideration in the region of Rs. 8711 crores.
vii. Landed value of imports are lower than cost of sales of the domestic industry. Indian market
attractive in terms of price and is highly lucrative as it is the only market that has such a
significant demand for the product under consideration.
viii. Post imposition of the anti-dumping duty, Bangladesh in August 2017 increasing
its cash subsidy from 7.5% to 10% on jute products. It was further enhanced by 2%
in September 2018. Cash subsidy/grant and other region-based subsidies were given
to the jute industry by the Government of Bangladesh by way of direct transfer of
funds and these incentives will enable them to export further in the event of
cessation of duties.
ix. Bangladesh had earlier launched a National Jute Policy in 2011 and then another in 2014.
The cabinet approved the draft of 'National Jute Policy-2018' in May 2018 with priority
given to production of quality jute; ensuring fair price of jute; diversification of jute
products; modernization of jute mills; expansion of jute markets. Under the policy, the
government will form a technology upgrading fund to modernize both public and private
jute mills in line with global demand for jute and jute goods. It will arrange bank loans at
a reduced interest rate for entrepreneurs as part of incentives. Jute industry will also be
declared an agro-based industry so that it can enjoy tax benefits and fiscal incentives given
to these industries.
x. In the domestic markets of the subject countries, supply of the subject goods is significantly
higher than the demand of the subject goods and hence, a large part of the production of
the subject goods is available for exports. The producers are holding significant inventories
even at current production levels.
xi. The jute industrial sector of Bangladesh is highly export oriented and as per the Bangladesh
Jute Spinners Association, the mills export nearly 100% of its exports.
xii. Brazil has extended duties on Bangladesh on the subject goods in 2016, thus, for
Bangladesh exporters as on date one market remains closed due to duties.
xiii.
Bangladesh is the world’s largest grower of jute. The production of raw jute has always
been higher than the consumption required by the market in Bangladesh, and, therefore,
the most essential raw material for the product then, further, becomes available at a cheaper
price. Further, projected evidence that there shall be steady increase in production, despite
a relatively stable situation in consumption.
xiv.Cultivation of jute and manufacturing of its products plays a vital role for Bangladesh’s
economy. It contributes around 5% in GDP and about 10-15% in the national employment.
Jute goods and its exports form an important source of foreign exchange.
xv.
47 producers in India, who have collectively invested an amount exceeding Rs. 5720 crores
(considering capital employed by the petitioner companies) and employs 99,534 persons
directly (considering employment by the petitioner companies). This employment does not
include indirect employment.
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xvi. The producers in Nepal have de facto only two markets – Nepal and India. Therefore, there
is a high dependence and compulsion on the Indian market, to sell their surplus production,
which globally does not have a demand.
xvii. Going from the history of past cases, i.e., the circumvention attempted by the exporters
from Bangladesh including a series of new shipper reviews have established likelihood.
Out of the 6 new shipper reviews conducted, 4 were concluded with an individual dumping
margin and in two new rates were not recommended.
xviii. The argument of the interested parties that composition of the domestic industry has
changed to prove the non-existence of likelihood of injury and dumping is conjecture and
there exists no evidence for the same. The injury claimed is continued adverse effect based
on the domestic producers as a whole and likelihood of intensified injury in the event of
cessation of anti-dumping duty.
xix. The applicant is bringing forth the effect of incentives offered by the Government of
Bangladesh merely to show that the support measures offered are enough to continue
exports in significant volumes at dumped prices as is evident from the data in the POI.
These support measures encouraging exports are directly related to the determination of
likelihood of continued/recurrence of dumping and injury.
xx.
Submissions made that jute units operating under BJMC were closed in July 2020, are not
correct. As per the article published in Bangladesh’s daily national “Dailystar”, the closure
of jute units operating under the BJMC were public mills that have a miniscule share in the
total number of mills installed in the country. This closure was seen positively with the
expectation that utilization and production will increase and there were even plans for
increasing the existing capacities. It was also admitted in the article that the producers/
exporters have continued to dump in international markets, and the Authority must not
ignore such a blatant admission both in the media and during oral hearing.
xxi. There is surplus capacity available with reference to jute products. The availability of raw
jute is still more than domestic consumption and thus, there is a possibility of increased
production. The current import volume in India itself is injurious.
xxii. It has been argued that no evidence/law/rule suggests that export-orientation of an industry
can be blamed for likelihood of increased exports The export orientation must not be seen
on a standalone basis, they are to be seen along with the significant surplus capacities,
underutilized capacities, plans on increasing production and capacities, with limited
domestic demand. High export orientation along with these factors indicates that surplus
production will be intended to be sold in the international markets, and with the fact that
there is limited global demand of the subject goods and India is an important market, the
possibility of significant exports entering the Indian market is likely.
xxiii. Although the support given by the Government of Bangladesh is not targeted towards the
Indian market, the support nonetheless is being used by the exporters to export goods at
cheaper price to India. There is no requirement under Article 11.3 that the Government
actions be specifically targeted against India.
xxiv.
There is surplus capacity available with reference to jute products. The domestic
availability of raw jute in Bangladesh is still more than domestic consumption and thus, there
is a possibility of increased production. The current import volume in India itself is injurious.
H.2 Views of the other interested parties
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- The other interested parties have filed the following comment or submissions with regard to likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury: i. The expiry of the existing anti-dumping duties is not likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to the domestic industry as envisaged in Rule 23 (1B) of the AD Rules and the duties must be allowed to expire. ii. The petitioners’ determination of likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury lacks sufficient factual basis and they have merely relied on misleading statements and undue presumptions with the sole objective of continuing the existing duties. iii. Jute products produced in Bangladesh are made solely from raw jute grown in the country. The quantity of production of jute products and export thereof depends entirely on the annual jute crop of Bangladesh. Due to the scarcity of land, area of land for raw jute production in the country has remained same during the last 5 years, so is the quantity of production and there is no indication that production of raw jute will increase in Bangladesh in near future. Because of quality of jute grown in the country, jute products from Bangladesh have huge demand all over the world, including India. Further, there are no indications of any change in the global demand pattern. Therefore, there is no possibility of sudden increase of export to India in numbers, which can cause recurrence of injury, even hypothetically. The argument put forth by the petitioners in this regard does not reflect reality. iv. Continuation of antidumping duties on jute bag by Brazil in 2016, which is in place since 1992, cannot be the reason for sudden diversion of these exports to India and injure the Indian industry. Further, Bangladesh’s export to Brazil as a whole is minuscule, as the respondents do not export to Brazil, all of this points to the fact that this not a real threat of any significance. v. The continuation of anti-dumping duties after a review would require the positive satisfaction of two conditions: likelihood of dumping; and likelihood of injury. While the same for withdrawal would require negative conclusion on likelihood of injury only. vi. The petitioners confirmed that “the overall performance of the domestic industry has improved. The domestic industry has not suffered continued injury.” So, it is clear that the domestic industry did not suffer from any injury during the investigation period. vii. Since the petitioners have failed to make a proper case for the likelihood of dumping based on positive evidence, the respondent in this part submits why the petitioners have also failed to establish that the withdrawal of duties would lead to likely continuation or recurrence of injury. viii. The very first ground concerning likelihood of injury analysis put forward by the petition related to the alleged fact that the Government of Bangladesh has been providing support in the form of tax exemptions, rebates, holidays and export subsidies to jute products in order to encourage jute industry to export jute goods. There is no denying that these measures are undertaken to encourage exports. However, tax exemptions, rebates and holidays as mentioned by petitioners don’t apply to the subject jute products. Even if these apply to the subject jute products, these are irrelevant to dumping and the petition does not explain how these support measures are relevant in the present SSR case.
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ix. With regard to the cash subsides, the applicant has submitted that the purpose of
increasing cash subsidies for jute product was to neutralize the anti-dumping duty
imposed by India. Such open-ended statement ignores the fact that the industry has been
facing continuous challenges to pay its workers and undergoing through existential
crises in many respects. Therefore, the Government of Bangladesh continuously
supports the sector and these supports are available for exports to all countries not only
to India and such support has been in place for a long time. Therefore, there is no reason
to consider that the current export subsidies scheme is designed to neutralise the anti-
dumping duty imposed by India.
x. Different support measures of the Government of Bangladesh are not designed to
overtake Indian market, rather simply to stabilize the sector with the objective of saving
the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers given the closure of many industries
and internal disturbances in last several years. Many of the support measures which are
in place predate the imposition of the anti-dumping duty in question and are in no way
linked with the existing duties.
xi. Overall, the petitioners appear to have implicated the government support measures to
individual exporters from Bangladesh. The support measures are government initiatives
and cannot be attributed to any individual exporters and thus, to the respondent industry.
Hypothetically speaking, even if these government measures cause some injury to the
Indian domestic industry (which is not the case), it cannot be a legal basis for the
continuation of the duties as part of the likelihood of injury analysis. The support
measures in question are completely unrelated to the anti-dumping duties.
xii. The petitioner has unnecessarily created a fear of increase of import of jute products
from Bangladesh through an inappropriate assessment of the situation of the jute
industry in Bangladesh. Firstly, it is well-known that Bangladesh is the largest producer
of raw jute in the world. Due to high quality of raw jute produced in Bangladesh, both
raw jute and jute products of Bangladesh have huge demand all over the world. The
quantity of jute products produced in Bangladesh solely depends on the availability of
raw jute in the country since there is no question of import of raw jute from anywhere
in the world. Therefore, assessment of possible increase of production of jute products
must be based on the availability of raw jute in the country. In this context, the Authority
may examine the quantity of production of raw jute in Bangladesh.
xiii. Surplus capacity in some companies cannot be the determining factor for increase of
production of jute products. Rather, the Government of Bangladesh has closed all jute
industries operated under Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation in July 2000. Therefore,
arguments put forward by the petitioner on likelihood of increase of import of jute
products are not justified.
xiv. The petition mentions that since the landed value of imports from Bangladesh are at a
price lower than the selling price and cost sales of the domestic industry, it is likely that
if the duties are withdrawn, the Bangladeshi producers would aggressively target the
Indian market. The respondent is unable to comment on this argument because of less
clarity in data regarding the calculation of landed value of imports and the indexing of
selling price.
xv. The petitioner has failed to understand that the Bangladeshi jute industry has been
developed independent of the Indian market. Even when duties were in place, the
overall export of the respondent along with the domestic jute industry has increased.
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Therefore, the anti-dumping duty in question is not related to the exporting nature of the domestic industry. xvi. The efforts to modernize Bangladesh's jute industry have nothing to do with the likelihood analysis in the present case. xvii. There is no reason shown which can lead one to believe that the price of exports from Bangladesh may decline in the near future and the global scenario and situation in Bangladesh is very conducive for the prices to go further up in the near future and claims to the contrary are all unsubstantiated. xviii. The petition contains unsupported claims of likelihood of dumping and injury which must not be accepted by the Authority. On the contrary, the overwhelming number of responses have been filed by the exporters which provide the Authority with actual information on capacity, capacity utilization, third country exports, inventory etc. which is relevant in the context of likelihood examination. It would be evident that the claims in the petition are not justified in view of such factual position. xix. The evidence filed by the domestic industry shows negative price undercutting for the updated POI. xx. The petition cites India as the sole export market for Nepal as the only factor likely to cause recurrence of injury to the domestic industry if anti-dumping duties are discontinued against it. The respondents submit that India being a significant market for Nepal is well established. However, the mere fact that India is a significant market cannot by itself be a factor indicating likelihood of recurrence of injury. Rather, it must be coupled with some other significant factor which together are capable of causing injury. There is no other such factor since price undercutting is also negative. xxi. With respect to Nepal, the only submission made in written submission by the domestic industry is that imports from Nepal have increased. However, imports have increased in relation to hessian fabric and sacking bags only. This is due to constraints faced by the domestic producers in producing adequate quantity of like article, particularly sacking bags, and restrictions imposed by the Government which prevents the domestic producers from selling in the open market. This has necessitated users to import the subject goods from Nepal. xxii. When domestic industry is visibly perturbed by imports from Bangladesh only, and given the background of the case, which include various anti-circumvention and new shipper review investigations, it becomes apparent that import competition is only being faced from Bangladesh. There are no facts which indicate a likelihood of recurrence of injury due to imports from Nepal. H.3 Examination by the Authority
- The present investigation is a sunset review of duties imposed on the imports of subject goods from Bangladesh and Nepal. Under the Rules, the Authority is required to determine whether the cessation of existing duty is likely to lead to continuance or recurrence of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.
- All factors brought to the notice of the Authority have been examined to determine as to whether there is a likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping or injury in the event of cessation of the duty. The Authority has considered various information, as made available
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by the domestic industry, in order to evaluate the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of
dumping or injury.
123. With regards to submissions made by the other interested parties concerning certain data
related to supply and demand figures of jute production in relation to Bangladesh and Nepal,
it is reiterated that the Authority has not taken cognisance of the report.
124. The Authority has examined the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury considering
the requirement laid down under Section 9A (5), Rule 23 and parameters relating to the threat
of material injury in terms of Annexure - II (vii) of the AD Rules, and other relevant factors
brought on record by the interested parties:
i.
A significant rate of increase of dumped imports into India indicating the
likelihood of substantially increased importation;
ii.
Sufficient freely disposable, or an imminent, substantial increase in capacity
of the exporter indicating the likelihood of substantially increased dumped
exports to Indian markets, taking into account the availability of other export
markets to absorb any additional exports;
iii.
Whether imports are entering at prices that will have a significant depressing
or suppressing effect on domestic prices, and would likely increase demand for
further imports; and
iv.
Inventories of the article being investigated.
- Further, the Authority has also examined other relevant factors having a bearing on the
likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and consequent injury to the domestic
industry. The examination of the parameters of likelihood is as follows:
i. Continued dumping of the subject goods and anti-circumvention of existing anti-dumping duties. - The dumping of the subject goods from some producers/exporters of the subject countries has continued despite anti-dumping duties being in force. The volume of imports has also remained significant in absolute and relative terms. It is also noted that the import volume from Bangladesh of sacking cloth increased significantly after imposition of the anti-dumping duties, that led to the anti-circumvention investigation and subsequent extension of duties on sacking cloth.
- The table mentioned below shows the production figures of sacking cloth by the domestic
industry.
SN Particulars Unit 2017-18 2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
1 Sacking cloth MT
Trend Index 100 114 184 41 2 Production MT
Trend MT 100 102 106 93
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3 Share of sacking cloth %
Trend
100 111 173 44
- It is seen that the production of sacking cloth by the domestic industry is abysmally low in relation to its total production. However, the imports of sacking cloth coming in from Bangladesh constitute a very significant percentage of the total imports. If there was such a high demand of sacking cloth in the Indian market then the domestic industry would have manufactured and sold sacking cloth as such. However, this is not the case. This shows that the sacking cloth being exported by producers/exporters from Bangladesh is nothing but a penultimate form of sacking bag and a form of the PUC which is being resorted to circumvent the existing anti-dumping investigation. The Authority has also established the same in its anti-circumvention findings concerning Bangladesh.24 ii. Surplus capacities in Bangladesh and Nepal
- Information with respect to surplus capacities with the producers in the subject countries is given below. The Authority has examined the information for period of investigation separately for the sampled and non-sampled producer/exporters to examine the likelihood of injury.
Idle Capacity Capacity Production Capacity utilization Idle capacity as % of Indian demand Idle capacity as % of Indian demand
MT MT % % Range Bangladesh Sampled
0-10 Non- Sampled
20-30 Total
20-30 Nepal Sampled
0-10 Non- Sampled
0-10 Total
0-10 Source: EQR
- It is seen that about ***% of the capacity of sampled producer/exporters and ***% of the capacity of non-sampled producer/exporters of Bangladesh was idle in the period of
24 Final Findings in Anti-circumvention investigation concerning alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duty imposed on the imports Jute Sacking Bags from Bangladesh dated 19th March 2019 (F.No. 7/3/2018 -DGAD).
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investigation. In case of Nepal, it is seen that about ***% of the capacity of the sampled
exporters and *** % capacity of non-sampled exporters was lying idle.
131. With regards to the submission made by the other interested parties with respect to limited
availability of raw jute material in Bangladesh, the Authority notes that no evidence has been
submitted to back this claim.
132. Brazil has extended duties on the subject goods from Bangladesh in 2016. Thus, for the
exporters from Bangladesh one market has remained closed due to duties. This also evidently
corroborates why Bangladesh has continued to export dumped imports into India in large
quantities. Brazil has now initiated sunset review of anti-dumping duties, which were imposed
first time in 1992.
iii.
Historical analysis of market share and imports
133. The Authority has analysed the market share in demand of imports of subject goods from
subject countries from the base year of the original investigation to the present POI. This has
been analysed considering both a market for government procurement and excluding it.
Import Volumes and Market Share since Original Investigation (including
Government Procurement)
SN
Year
Imports
Demand
(Subject
countries)
Share
1
2011-12
1,26,044
14,32,360
8.80%
2
2012-13
1,83,534
14,92,084
12.30%
3
2013-14
1,62,193
14,69,694
11.04%
4
2014-15
1,73,711
14,80,133
11.74%
5
2015-16
2,01,295
14,10,478
14.27%
6
2016-17
1,34,565
12,44,568
10.81%
7
2017-18
1,32,868
11,78,706
11.27%
8
2018-19
1,24,850
11,40,443
10.95%
9
2019-20
1,70,519
12,03,483
14.17%
10
2020-21
1,78,758
10,20,490
17.52%
Import volumes and market share since original investigation (excluding government procurement) SN Year Imports Demand Govt. Net demand (Subject countries) Share
Gross Excluding Govt 1 2011-12 1,26,044 14,32,360 7,95,475 6,36,885 8.80% 20% 2 2012-13 1,83,534 14,92,084 9,95,086 4,96,998 12.30% 37%
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3 2013-14 1,62,193 14,69,694 6,84,658 7,85,036 11.04% 21% 4 2014-15 1,73,711 14,80,133 6,91,300 7,88,833 11.74% 22% 5 2015-16 2,01,295 14,10,478 8,10,123 6,00,355 14.27% 34% 6 2016-17 1,34,565 12,44,568 8,61,229 3,83,339 10.81% 35% 7 2017-18 1,32,868 11,78,706 7,99,583 3,79,123 11.27% 35% 8 2018-19 1,24,850 11,40,443 8,42,793 2,97,650 10.95% 42% 9 2019-20 1,70,519 12,03,483 7,72,157 4,31,326 14.17% 40% 10 2020-21 1,78,758 10,20,490 6,80,064 3,40,426 17.52% 53%
- It is noted that despite the imposition of anti-dumping duties, imports from the subject countries have increased significantly. It is expected that the consequence of any trade remedial measures and specifically, imposition of anti-dumping duties would lead to import volume being contained if not reduced, in a situation where there are sufficient capacities within the country. However, the same has not been a result in this investigation. The Authority, therefore, disagrees with the position taken by the other interested parties that the imposition of measures has had an adverse impact on the subject exports. It is evident that the share of Bangladesh and Nepal in the open market has reached 55% in the POI. There has been a significant increase in imports of subject goods as compared to the base year of the original investigation and the POI of the original investigation, wherein the share was 20% and 13% respectively. iv. Efforts of Government of Bangladesh to push exports
- The importance of the jute sector for Bangladesh is well-known and has been admitted by the Government of Bangladesh. The jute sector has historically been an important industry for both India and Bangladesh. The Authority notes that Bangladesh has an inherent advantage of abundance of raw jute coupled with abundance of superior quality of raw jute. This advantage lies with Bangladesh naturally and geographically. Besides, having a natural advantage, the Government of Bangladesh offers various support measures to the producers/exporters of jute products that encourage exports.
- The Government of Bangladesh grants cash subsidy of anywhere between 7.5 percent and 12 percent on their exports of jute products, as has been admitted by the Government of Bangladesh. While the cash subsidies for exports in itself denotes the importance of export markets for jute, it is distinctive in this case as to the manner in which this cash subsidy was used as a tool to push exports towards the Indian market. The table below shows the percentage of cash subsidy that was available for each product type in the relevant years: SN Period Cash Subsidy
Yarn Sacking bag and hessian fabric 1 2015 5 7.5 2 2016 5 7.5 3 Jan 2017 MoF imposition of duties after the original investigation 4 2017 5 10
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5 March 2018 Circumvention investigation initiated by the Authority 6 August 2018 7 12
- It is seen from the above table that the rate of cash subsidies increased upon imposition of duties by the Ministry of Finance. These rates were further increased upon initiation of circumvention investigation. Consequently, it was seen that imports of sacking cloth declined, and that imports of sacking bag commenced again. The Authority cannot disassociate the two events, as any change in the manner in which the investigation was conducted, was seen to have directly impacted the formulation of rates of cash subsidies being offered.
- Furthermore, it has been shown that the Government of Bangladesh has formulated ‘National Jute Policy 2018’ with the vision of creating a fund for modernisation of the sector. Thus, these incentives and scheme only promote the export orientation of the exporters in Bangladesh. v. Export orientation
- Information with respect to export orientation of the producers in the subject countries is given
below. The Authority has examined the information for period of investigation to examine
likelihood of injury.
Export Orientation Production Exports Export orientati on Export orientation as % of Indian demand
MT MT % % Range Bangladesh Sampled
9-10 Non-Sampled
22-23 Total
30-40 Nepal Sampled
0-10 Non-Sampled
0-10 Total
0-10 Source: EQR
- It is seen that the producers in the subject countries are utilizing a significant share of their production for export purposes. In the event of cessation of duty, it is likely that these exports would likely be diverted to India given the lucrativeness of the Indian market.
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vi.
Persistent presence of exporters in the market and vulnerability of the domestic
industry
141. The Authority notes that the imports of the subject goods from subject countries at dumped
and injurious prices have not only continued, but have also remained significant. The
Authority in the anti-circumvention investigation found that the remedial effect of duties was
undermined due to the circumvention of duty from Bangladesh through exports of sacking
cloth. The Authority recalls the final findings relating to anti-circumvention investigations,
wherein the Authority had established circumvention of the anti-dumping duty by the
Bangladeshi exporters.
142. The importance of the Indian market to the Bangladesh exporters/producers from Bangladesh
is also evident from the number of new shipper investigations, the Authority has conducted.
This was yet another mechanism drawn by the exporter to receive low/nil duties and continue
maintaining their presence in the market.
vii.
Third country dumping
143. The Authority has determined likely behaviour of the exporters by determining the dumping
margin in their exports to the third countries.
144. Information with respect to third country dumping for sampled producer/exporters in
Bangladesh is given below:
Exports to third countries at dumped price Total exports to third countries Exports to other countries at dumped prices Exports at dumped prices as % of Indian demand
MT MT % Range % Range Sampled
60-70
0-10 Non-Sampled
50-60
0-10 Total
50-60
0-10 Source: EQR
- It is seen that a significant share of exports of the responding sampled and non-sampled
producer/exporters of Bangladesh to third countries are at dumped prices. These dumped
exports to third countries would represent 9.76% of total Indian demand.
viii. Third country injurious exports - The Authority has examined the third country injurious exports and has adopted a conservative approach by comparing landed price of subject goods (to third countries) with the NIP of the PCN commanding lowest value. Information with respect to third country injurious exports is given below:
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Exports to other countries at or below injurious price Total exports to third countries Exports to other countries at or below injurious price Exports to other countries at or below injurious price % of Indian demand
MT MT % Range % Range Sampled
70-80
0-10 Non- Sampled
60-70
10-20 Total
60-70
10-20 Source: EQR
- It is seen that significant exports of responding sampled and non-sampled producer/exporters of Bangladesh to third countries are at prices which could be injurious to the domestic industry, in the event of their diversion to India.
ix.
Price attractiveness of Indian market
148. Information with respect to price attractiveness is given below:
Exports to other countries below NSR in India Total exports to third countries Exports to other countries below price in India (NSR) Exports to other countries below price to India % of Indian demand
MT MT % Range % Range Sampled
50-60
0-10 Non-Sampled
80-90
10-20 Total
80-90
10-20 Source: EQR 149. It is seen that significant share of exports of responding sampled and non-sampled producer/exporters of Bangladesh to third countries are at prices below the prevailing prices in India. I. INDIAN INDUSTRY'S INTEREST & OTHER ISSUES
The Authority notes that the purpose of anti-dumping duty, in general, is to eliminate injury caused to the domestic industry by the unfair trade practices of dumping so as to establish a situation of open and fair competition in the Indian market, which is in the general interest of the country. The continuation of an anti-dumping measure does not aim to restrict imports from the subject countries in any way. The Authority recognizes that the continuation of anti-dumping duties might affect the price levels of the product in India. However, fair competition in the Indian market will not be reduced by the imposition of anti-dumping measure. On the contrary, the continuation of the anti-dumping measure would ensure that no unfair advantages are gained by dumping practice and prevent the decline of the domestic
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industry and help in maintaining the availability of a wider choice to the consumers of the
subject goods.
151.
The Authority considered whether continuation of anti-dumping shall have any adverse
impact on the interest of the public. In order to determine such impact, the Authority weighed
the impact of the continuation of duties on the availability of the goods in the Indian market,
the impact on the users of the product as well as the domestic industry and the impact on the
general public at large. This determination is based on the submissions and evidence
submitted over the course of the present investigation.
152.
The Authority issued initiation notification inviting views from all interested parties,
including importers, consumers and others. The Authority also prescribed a questionnaire
for the users/ user association to provide relevant information with regards to the present
investigation including any possible effects of the anti-dumping duty on their operations.
However, none of the interested parties have provided any information regarding impact of
anti-dumping duty on their operations.
153.
The submissions made by the other interested parties in their submissions have been
considered in this regard. As regards the impact of duty quantified by the consumer industry,
the Authority notes that the present investigation is a sunset review investigation, and
therefore, before considering the impact of the proposed duties on consumers in future, the
Authority should first consider the impact of duty that was imposed earlier. In a situation
where the anti-dumping duty has been in place for more than four years, the increase in the
price of the product (after due adjustments for raw material price movements) and the impact
of the same is the best indicator of the likely impact of proposed duty on the consumers. This
impact is required to be determined considering the increase in price of the domestic and
imported product post imposition of duty. It is seen that there is no material increase in the
price of the product either by domestic industry or by the Bangladeshi/Nepalese producers.
Any increase of prices of domestic industry has been in tandem with increase in cost of
production. Further, it is seen that the return on investment of the domestic industry has
declined in the POI considerably.
154.
The Authority notes that the Indian jute Industry is both culturally and historically important
for the country. The jute mills in the state of West Bengal are largely placed in one district
i.e., North 24 Parganas. The people of this district are largely employed by the jute mills
surrounding the district. The entire livelihood and sustenance of families are dependent on
the jute mills. Therefore, any adverse impact on the performance of the jute mills
immediately affects the livelihood of the workers and their families. It has been informed
that the Indian jute industry provides employment to around 4 lakh workmen, and therefore,
it would be the workmen who would bear the impact of any measure that would lead to a
decline of the jute industry.
155.
A more significant part of the Indian jute industry are the raw jute farmers. The Indian jute
industry engages and is directly impacting the livelihood of 40 lakh farmers. It is indisputable
that raw jute plays an important role in the country’s economy, farmer’s livelihood and rural
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economy, and is originally considered as a source of raw material for packaging industries.
It is acknowledged that the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing
Commodities) Act, 1987 was promulgated to provide the jute farmers an assured market,
and thus, requiring the jute mills to dedicate production facilities for sale in that market by
mandating procurement of only domestic raw jute. However, it has been verified by the
Authority that practically all jute mills have developed production facilities in parallel for
goods meant for consumption in the open market as well. Further, these production facilities
are by-an-large dedicated for products going into different market segments, and has been
noted herein above that the production facilities developed for the products being sold in the
open market cannot be utilized for the production of goods bought by the Government of
India.
156.
Further, approximately 25% of raw jute grown in India is of higher grade which are only
used for production of fine yarn and hessian fabric, i.e., products being sold in the open
market. These products have a higher cosy, fetch better price and have better utilization in
packaging products such as bags for tea, coffee and as shopping bags, furnishing material,
decorative fabrics etc. Therefore, it is noted that should the open market be left unprotected
and open to dumped imports at unfair prices, the Indian jute mills will become unviable. This
would result in loss of market for raw jute farmers and would adversely impact their
livelihood. It has been brought to the notice of the Authority that this market has an immense
potential for growth, as globally efforts are being made to move from plastic to natural/bio-
degradable products. Further, as stated above, production facilities for both sacking bags and
yarn/hessian must necessarily co-exist and it is impossible for the Indian industry to continue
viable operations based solely on government procurement.
157.
It is also noted that the imports of jute sacking bag, jute yarn/twine and hessian fabric only
compete in the open market. The products being manufactured and dedicated for sale in the
open market by the domestic industry have required significant investments. In the presence
of continued and increasing share of subject imports in the open market, the Indian industry
would be forced to exit from the open market. This will result in these dedicated capacities,
investments, plant & equipment, employment and huge Infrastructure to become completely
redundant, and the industry suffer perennial losses.
158.
The Authority also notes that the Indian market has remained attractive for the imports from
the subject countries and it has not diminished over the period. The dumping of the subject
product has also continued despite the extant anti-dumping duties. Further, the exporters
from Bangladesh have even resorted to dumping of upstream product after the original
imposition of duties. The Authority carried out an anti-circumvention investigation to
address this phenomenon. Thus, jute products have continued to be an attractive export
product to India with continued dumping and consequential injury to the domestic industry
in India.
159.
The Authority notes that the imposition of duty will not in any manner restrict the imports,
but only ensure that the goods are available at fair prices. Further, there is no demand-supply
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gap in the country, as domestic producers have sufficient capacity to cater the need of the
Indian market. Additionally, the product can also be imported from other countries.
160.
The Authority also notes the observations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs
and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, on the impact of the anti-dumping
duties imposed on subject countries. The Commission in its Report25 has observed the
following:
“1.23 To safeguard interest of domestic jute industry and growers, definitive antidumping
duty on import of ‘Jute Products’ comprising of Jute yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and
single), Hessian Fabrics and Jute Sacking bags originating in or exported from Bangladesh
and Nepal were imposed with effect from 5th January, 2017. In June 2019, anti-dumping
duty was also imposed on jute sacking cloth under tariff heading 5310 originating in or
exported from Bangladesh to prevent the circumvention of levy of anti-dumping duty levied
on jute sacking bags. These interventions have resulted in resumption of operations in 13
Twine mills in Andhra Pradesh, benefitting about 20 thousand workers and created
additional demand of 2 lakh tonnes of jute goods in the domestic market.”
In another Report26, the Commission has observed the following:
“1.26 India is one of the largest importers of jute and jute products from Bangladesh as
Government of Bangladesh provides subsidy for promoting export of jute goods. During
2019-20, Bangladesh provided cash subsidy of 12 percent on hessian, sacking and carpet
backing clothing (CBC), 7 percent on yarn and twine and 20 percent subsidy on jute
diversified jute products. These subsidies promote increased production, distort market and
adversely affect Indian jute growers and industry. To safeguard interest of domestic jute
growers and industry, definitive antidumping duty on import of ‘Jute Products’ comprising
of jute yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), hessian fabrics and jute sacking bags
originating in or exported from Bangladesh and Nepal was imposed with effect from 5th
January 2017. In June 2019, anti-dumping duty was imposed on jute sacking cloth under
tariff heading 5310 originating in or exported from Bangladesh to prevent the circumvention
of levy of anti-dumping duty levied on jute sacking bags. Despite these measures, imports
of jute and jute products from Bangladesh increased by about 60 percent, from US$109
million in 2018-19 to about US$175 million in 2019-20. The export subsidy policy of
Bangladesh adversely affects competitiveness of Indian jute goods and thereby corners
higher share in the international market. The Commission recommends close monitoring of
imports from Bangladesh and take corrective measures including the duty structure and
countervailing duty to restrict subsidised imports of jute and jute products from Bangladesh.”
161.
It is, therefore, noted that the continuation of the anti-dumping duties on the imports of the
subject goods would be in the interest of domestic producers of the subject goods in India.
25 Price Policy for Jute 2020 – 21 Season, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, October 2019, p.10. 26 Price Policy for Jute 2021 – 22 Season, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, October 2020, p.10.
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The fact that this is a capital- and labour-intensive industry, the continuation of the measure
would prevent further injury and give time to the domestic producers to compete against the
exporters from the subject countries.
J. POST – DISCLOSURE COMMENTS
The Authority notes that most of the submissions made by the interested parties in response to the disclosure statement are repetitive in nature and the interested parties have largely reiterated their earlier submissions. The Authority has already examined such submissions in the aforementioned paras and only additional submissions have been examined by the Authority in the following examination to the extent they were found to be relevant. J.1 Submissions made by the other interested parties
The following submissions have been made by the other interested parties: i. As per Article 11.5 of the Anti-dumping Agreement a sunset review is to be “carried out expeditiously and shall normally be concluded within 12 months of the date of initiation of the review.” Therefore, such review must be concluded within 12 months. Unlike original investigation, there is no scope for extension of review period. Rule 23(2) of AD Rules also states the same, that is, “Any review initiated under sub-rule (1) shall be concluded within a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of initiation of such review”. Thus, the Indian law also requires the conclusion of the review within a period of twelve months. The Authority should, therefore, terminate the investigation as it would be a violation of the obligations under Art. 11.5 of the WTO Anti-dumping Agreement. ii. The proposal to keep the scope of PUC as has been defined in the original investigation is just and is in line with the consistent practice of the Authority. The proposal may be confirmed for the final findings. a) The exporters from Nepal have made the following submissions on PCN: a. The exporters from Nepal did not seek exclusion of jute twine exported by them from the PCN. Rather, they have requested for a separate/additional PCN as the jute twine exported by them could not be classified within the five grades/qualities proposed by the Authority for jute yarn/twine viz. (i) Sacking, (ii) Hessian, (iii) CB, (iv) CRT/CRX and (v) CRM. Also, the request for separate/additional PCN for jute yarn/twine exported from Nepal was not opposed by the domestic industry or any of the other interested parties. b. The exporters from Nepal have not claimed that the jute twine exported by them is not produced or sold in India. Rather, it was submitted that the jute twine exported by them did not fall within the five grades/qualities suggested by the Authority. Respondents affirm that the jute twine exported by them is sold in India. However, it is denied that it can be used for the same end use as yarns falling within the five PCNs devised by the Authority. c. The end usage of jute yarn for which PCNs have been suggested by Authority are for use in looms for weaving hessian cloth, sacking cloth/bags and for different types of carpets, etc. They have significantly higher ‘break strength’ that is required for use in
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looms either as warp or weft threads. Jute twine manufactured by Respondents are used for stitching mouths of sacking bags once the bags are filled with pulses or sugar or any other item or for stitching any tear or other damage to sacking bags. Further, jute twine is presented either in 2 ply or 3 ply and as such, cannot be used in looms as single threaded yarn alone is used in looms to make sacking bags.
iii. The Authority is requested that jute sacking bag and jute sacking cloth may be considered
as like article and jute sacking cloth be included within the scope of the PUC and grant
one duty to the product.
iv. The Government of Bangladesh expected the disclosure statement within June 2021 in
accordance with the clear requirement of Article 11.5 of the WTO Agreement. However,
since no disclosure was issued within June 2022, the Government of Bangladesh was of
the view that the review has been terminated. However, the Government of Bangladesh
was surprised to receive the disclosure on 18 August 2022, almost two months after the
required date of concluding the investigation. Under these circumstances, the Government
of Bangladesh requests the authority not to make any recommendation on the basis of this
disclosure.
v. The requirement to constitute a ‘domestic industry’ in terms of Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules
is applicable even in a sunset review and it is not correct to state that the test of standing
is not relevant in a sunset review.
vi. For the purpose of sunset review, the domestic industry means producers who constitute
major proportion in the total domestic production. The share of domestic producers is only
27.46%, which cannot be considered as a major proportion of the total domestic
production for the purpose of the present investigation. It may be noted that the Appellate
Body in the anti-dumping measures on Certain Iron or Steel Fasteners from China found
that the EU authorities violated Article 4.1 by defining a domestic industry comprising
producers accounting for mere 27 per cent of total estimated EU production of fasteners.
vii. The standing of the Petitioner companies should be reckoned for each product type
separately (i.e., Jute Yarn/Twine, Hessian Fabric, Jute Sacking Cloth, and Jute Sacking
bag) and not for all the products as a whole.
viii.
Considering the information provided by the 32 domestic producers as per Trade
Notice No. 05/2021 dated 29th July, 2021 and the injury information provided by the 6
domestic producers would be in gross violation of Rule 5 of the AD Rules, which requires
the Authority to initiate an investigation based on a Petition by or on behalf of the
domestic industry.
ix. As per Article 3.5 of the Anti-dumping Agreement, the volume of dumped and un-dumped
imports should be segregated while undertaking injury and likelihood analysis.
x. The continuation of anti-dumping duty is unwarranted and the duties must be allowed to
expire in the larger public interest.
xi. Cumulative assessment is not appropriate as dumping margin of imports from Nepal are
de-minimis. Article 3.3 of AD Agreement and Para (iii) of Annexure II of AD Rules 1995
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does not allow a country which has de minimis dumping margin to be cumulatively
assessed.
xii. Even though the capacity for government procurement and open market may be different,
in terms of the Orders issued by the Jute Commissioner, the Jute mills have to necessarily
fulfil the Government requirements before supplying to the open market. The Authority
has not specifically identified the companies which have fulfilled and not fulfilled the
Government’s requirement. Therefore, it is not clear if the domestic producers in India
have sufficient capacity to meet the demand for the open market in India.
xiii.
As per the news article in the Business Standard published on 05.08.2019, the
Indian Jute Mills Association (Petitioner Association) has specifically accepted the fact
that they have limited capacity. Therefore, non-availability of raw jute is not the only
reason affecting the ability of the domestic producers to supply to the open market, but
the domestic producers also have limited capacity. Further, unavailability of raw jute not
only affects the production for the Government market, but also the production for the
open market.
xiv.
The injury to the Indian industry is due to the restrictions imposed by the
Government that the Jute mills shall utilise their capacity for fulfilling the Government
procurement requirements before producing for the open market and the restriction in
prices at which the final product can be sold by the industry in terms of the Jute and Jute
Textiles Control Order, 2016.
xv. The domestic industry must establish that they were allowed to supply sacking bags to the
domestic market. Permissions obtained from Jute Commissioner ought to have been filed
as evidence and shared with the interested parties. However, no such evidence has been
filed or shared.
xvi.
The fact that the domestic industry was prevented from supplying to open market
is established from position of inventory which demonstrates average stock has declined.
xvii.
The injury to the domestic industry is due to imports from Bangladesh rather than
from Nepal. It is clear from the comparison of the landed value of the PUC from
Bangladesh and Nepal that the landed value of the subject goods is much higher from
Nepal in comparison to Bangladesh.
xviii.
Notwithstanding that separate looms are required for manufacturing sacking bags
for open market, Applicants could not have supplied to open market while sacking
requisition orders were operational unless permissions were obtained.
xix.
It is clear from the Authority’s analysis that there is likelihood of dumping and
injury in respect of imports from Bangladesh only. The surplus capacity and export
orientation is much higher in Bangladesh in comparison to Nepal. Further, the Bangladesh
Jute mills are also getting cash subsidies from the Government. Further, it is only the
exports from Bangladesh to the third countries which are at dumped prices.
xx. There is no correlation in movement of prices of the subject goods with that of the selling
price of the domestic industry. Price undercutting has had no effect on prices of the
Page 105 of 122
domestic industry and there is no price suppression or depression as the Authority has
observed that increase in selling price is same as the increase in cost.
xxi.
The Authority has determined a negative injury margin for jute yarn/twine
imported from Nepal. Further, the dumping margin is negative for other two product
categories i.e. sacking bags and hessian fabric and is overall negative for the product as a
whole. No case is made out for continuation of measures on imports from Nepal.
xxii.
Rule 23(1) states that antidumping duties shall remain in force only so long as and
to the extent necessary to counteract dumping which is causing injury. When dumping is
negative, existing duty must be terminated and no case is made out for continuation of the
levy of duty.
xxiii.
From the factors analysed by the Authority regarding likelihood of recurrence of
dumping and injury, it can be seen that all but one of these factors are in relation to
Bangladesh. The only factor examined with respect to Nepal is surplus capacity which is
extremely low between 0-10%. As such, the threat of likelihood of recurrence of injury
from Nepal is non-existent.
xxiv.
The anti-dumping duties imposed on jute sacking cloth from Bangladesh should
continue as per the duty mentioned in Customs Notification No. 24/2019-Customs (ADD)
dated 18.06.2019 and not at any other rate. Further, the aforementioned customs
notification should be made co-terminus with the outcome of the present review.
xxv.
The Authority should include a separate duty table which would be applicable to
jute sacking cloth.
xxvi.
Rabeya Jute Mills and Bogra Jute Mill were not before the Authority in the original
investigation. The Authority should determine a fresh quantum of anti-dumping duty
which would be applicable to these exporters should the Authority conclude positively on
the existence of likelihood.
xxvii.
The Authority should not modify the anti-dumping duty applicable to Janata Jute
Mill as it was a sampled exporter in the original investigation. It should continue with the
previous duties as the data of Janata has not been used for determination of fresh margins.
xxviii.
The injury margin for Sonali and Alijan seems to be overstated. The injury margin
for the respondents should be lower than that for the other exporters. It could well be
negative or de minimis.
xxix.
A.M. Jute Mills has started commercial production in October 2019, i.e., after
imposition of original as well as circumvention duties. The dumping margin determined
by the Authority for the respondent is negative. It is requested that the Authority as per its
past practice award A.M. Jute Mills an individual dumping margin/duty as it is a new
producer/exporter.
xxx.
The Authority can determine duty only on the basis of actual export price and
normal value of an exporter or producer as enunciated in S. 9A or on the basis of Rule
18(2). However, the provisions of Rule 18(2) are not applicable in the case of A.M. Jute
Mills as this provision is applicable only for non-sampled cooperative producer/exporter.
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xxxi. The Authority has not considered the evidence submitted by the Government of Bangladesh regarding the availability of raw jute in Bangladesh. The Authority should revisit its findings in this regard. xxxii. The Authority is requested to terminate the present sunset review on imports from Nepal. Alternatively, since the dumping margin/injury margin is negative for most of the exporters from Nepal. The Authority is requested to award ‘NIL’ rate of duty for such exporters instead of continuing the duty determined during the original investigation. xxxiii. Ranu Agro has submitted complete information in respect of sacking cloth which was duly verified by the Authority during the desk verification as well as onsite verification in Bangladesh. The Authority, is therefore, requested to consider jute sacking bag and jute sacking cloth as like articles and grant one and the same duty individually to Ranu Agro. xxxiv. The dumping margin calculated by the Authority is different from the dumping margin calculated by Ranu Agro. It is further requested that Ranu Agro be granted an individual rate of anti-dumping duty should the Authority decide to accord Hasan Jute & Spinning Mills the duty extended to its related company, Hasan Jute & Spinning Mills. xxxv. There have been several changes in the data pertaining to the economic parameters of the domestic industry which is attributable to non-inclusion of sacking cloth in the PUC. The Authority should have provided the revised economic parameters before issuing the disclosure statement. Sufficient time should be given to the interested parties to make their comments on the same. However, no such opportunity was granted by the Authority in this regard which is against the principles of natural justice.
J.2 Submissions of the domestic industry:
The following submissions have been made by the domestic industry:
i.
The present quantum of duties should be extended in the review investigation.
ii.
The Authority should exclude de minimis/zero margins in calculation of margins for non-
sampled cooperating producers in accordance with Art. 9.4 of the Anti-dumping
Agreement and Rule 17(3) and 18(2) of the AD Rules.
iii.
The new exporters who are responding in the present case should not accorded individual
margins as the import volume to India has declined significantly and as per, market
intelligence, the export volume from these exporters is (a) low and (b) are limited to certain
PCNs. This low volume of export and limited product types exports cannot give the correct
picture of dumping practices being practiced by the exporters.
iv.
The producers from the subject countries that responded in the original investigation but
have not responded in the present sunset review investigation should be considered as non-
cooperating interested parties, as they have failed to provide mandatory questionnaire
response.
v.
The Authority must not remove the import volume of such producers/exporters cases
which have been granted negative dumping margin while examining volume and price
effect. The Authority in while undertaking sunset review investigation on the following
products i.e. Toluene Di- Isocyanate- (TDI), Phthalic Anhydride Ammonium Nitrite ,
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Clear Float Glass , Caustic Soda , Acetone , Tyre Curing Press, and MDF, has not reduced
the de-minimis volume of imports.
vi.
The disclosure statement does not elaborate the methodology regarding the determination
of the cost of production of the foreign producers. It is public knowledge that these
producers had failed to provide accurate information for raw materials, utilities, conversion
costs for different product types and PCN at the time of original investigations. Thus, the
Authority must disclose how the cost of production has been determined considering there
are several PCNS involved in the investigation.
vii.
The non-injurious price determined by the Authority is too low resulting in a low injury
margin. The non-injurious price has been reduced on account of a number of factors. The
domestic industry is unable to provide any further submissions /comments, as the domestic
industry has been given only a worksheet showing NIP allowed. In the absence of any
statement about disallowance, the domestic industry is highly handicapped in defending
its interests.
viii.
The SSR questionnaire has a specific section which requires the transaction wise details
regarding the exports of the PUC to third country markets, i.e., markets other than India.
It is not clear from the NCV of the responses whether such information has been provided.
If the producers have not submitted such information, the Authority should hold that the
interested parties have withheld necessary information and consider the best available
information provided by the applicant domestic industry.
ix.
The market intelligence report should be accepted. The applicant had claimed only the
exact figures as confidential. However, it disclosed the source, the period for which data
was collected and also, provided a narrative which in essence summarised the information
used from the market intelligence report. The said report contained information pertaining
to surplus capacity, exports and raw jute consumption which in any case should have been
made available by the interested parties. Thus, the report relied on by the domestic industry
should be considered.
x.
The actual information and the name of the report and all relevant details required of the
market intelligence report was provided to the Authority which was sufficient to verify the
sanctity and authenticity of the data provided
xi.
Notwithstanding the treatment of report submitted by the domestic industry, the Authority
should consider the evidence placed on record showing the position at the industry level
on capacity, capacity expansions, export orientation.
xii.
A determination of de minimis dumping margin does not mean that the producers from the
subject countries can be exempted from the application of antidumping duty. Such
producers can be exempted only when the Authority reaches to a negative conclusion
regarding the following assessments: (a) dumping margin and injury margin in respect of
exports of India during the POI (b) dumping margin and injury margin in respect of exports
of various third countries during the POI (c) volume of dumped and injurious exports to
third countries during the POI (d) volume of dumped and injurious exports to India during
POI.
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xiii. A significant volume27 of the circumvented product has come into India. The large volume of imports of the PUI is in itself sufficient to establish the likelihood of intensified imports of product under consideration in the event of cessation of antidumping duty. xiv. The Authority has determined the significant volume of third country exports made by the subject countries to third countries and has compared the same in relation to Indian demand. It is reiterated that the Authority should work this percentage in respect to open market only as it is in the open market wherein the subject country imports compete. xv. The Authority considered similar likelihood parameters in the recently concluded TDI investigation. Infact, more parameters in the recent case indicate the existence of likelihood. Thus, the duties should also be extended as was done in the recently concluded TDI investigation. xvi. The third country export analysis conducted by the Authority shows that the Nepal does not have third country exports apart from India and that is the reason such analysis has not been undertaken for Nepal. xvii. The producers in Nepal de-facto have only two markets – Nepal and India. The domestic demand is however highly limited. Nepal is infact dependent on India even for raw jute. The exporters from Nepal attract low level of duty and resultantly have been able to increase exports to Indian market significantly. xviii. The Government of Bangladesh has framed several policies to which incentivizes the producers in country to increase their capacities and exports. xix. It is reiterated that the imposition of measures is in public interest. The Authority prescribed a questionnaire for the users/ user association to provide relevant information with regard to the present investigation including any possible effects of anti-dumping duty on their operations. However, none of the interested parties have provided any information regarding the impact of the anti-dumping duty on their operations. This is a sunset review investigation and if there was any adverse impact, it could have been easily established by the end consumers.
J.3 Examination by the Authority
With respect to the submission made by the Government of Bangladesh regarding the non- completion of the review investigation within twelve months, the Authority notes that Art. 11.2 of the Agreement of Anti-dumping states:
“11.4 The provisions of Article 6 regarding evidence and procedure shall apply to any review carried out under this Article. Any such review shall be carried out expeditiously and shall normally be concluded within 12 months of the date of initiation of the review.”
The use of the word ‘normally’ in Art. 11.4 makes it amply clear that an investigation can be completed even beyond the stipulated time period of 12 months. The Authority also notes that
27 Cumulative volumes from the base year of circumvention investigations till the present POI is 2,58,058 MT, cumulative volume over the injury period is 161977 MT whereas the Indian Industry’s estimated production of sacking cloth over the injury period was 15,325 MT.
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the details regarding the extension of timeline for investigation was duly notified on the website of DGTR on 10/06/2022.
Regarding the submission made by the other interested parties with respect to non- cumulation of imports from Nepal with Bangladesh, it is noted that the dumping margin for producers from Nepal is de – minimis. However, the margin for the residual category is above the de-minimis margin and therefore, the conditions of cumulation have been satisfied. Further, the Panel in US — Oil Country Tubular Goods Sunset Reviews has observed the following:
“7.335 Having concluded that cumulation is generally allowed throughout the Agreement, including sunset reviews, the next issue we have to address is whether the conditions for the use of cumulation set out in Article 3.3 also apply to sunset reviews. Argentina contends that if the Panel finds that cumulation is allowed in sunset reviews, then it should also find that the conditions of Article 3.3 regarding the use of cumulation apply to sunset reviews. We disagree.
7.336 We note that paragraph 3 of Article 3 is the only
paragraph that contains the word "investigation" under
Article 3. In our view, therefore, by its own terms Article 3.3
limits its scope of application to investigations. In this
respect, we note that this particular issue was also raised in
US – Corrosion-Resistant Steel Sunset Review and that panel
opined:
As stated above, even if the provisions of Article 3, including
the definition of injury in footnote 9, are generally applicable
throughout the Anti-Dumping Agreement, paragraph 3 of
Article 3 is exceptional, in that it alone explicitly refers to the
term "investigations". Nowhere else in the text of any other
paragraph of Article 3 is the word "investigation" mentioned.
Therefore, we are of the view that Article 3.3, by its own
terms, is limited in application to investigations and does not
apply to sunset reviews. It follows that the cross-reference in
Article 3.3 to the negligibility standard in Article 5.8 does not
apply to sunset reviews.
We agree with this view, and therefore find that the conditions set forth in Article 3.3 do not apply in sunset reviews.”28
The exporters from Nepal have stated that the PCN for the yarn exported by them has not been not appropriately framed. The Authority notes that the yarn produced by the exporters
28 Panel Report, United States — Sunset Reviews of Anti-Dumping Measures on Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina, WT/DS268/R.
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is used for the purpose of sewing the mouths of sacking bags. Further, it has been admitted by the exporters that the domestic industry also uses the produces and sells the same yarn which is used for sewing the mouth of sacking bags. Therefore, based on the information/documents furnished by the exporters/producers, the Authority has placed the jute yarn produced by the exporters from Nepal in the relevant PCN category. 168. As regards the determination of dumping margin for the non-sampled cooperating producers, the same has to be determined on the basis of weighted average margins of the sampled producers as per Rules 17(3) and 18 (2) of the AD Rules. The provisions are as follows: Rule 17(3): “(3) The designated authority shall determine an individual margin of dumping for each known exporter or producer concerned of the article under investigation: Provided that in cases where the number of exporters, producers, importers or types of articles involved are so large as to make such determination impracticable, it may limit its findings either to a reasonable number of interested parties or articles by using statistically valid samples based on information available at the time of selection, or to the largest percentage of the volume of the exports from the country in question which can reasonably be investigated, and any selection, of exporters, producers, or types of articles, made under this proviso shall preferably be made in consultation with and with the consent of the exporters, producers or importers concerned ”
Rule 18(2): “(2) In cases where the designated authority has selected percentage of the volume of the exports from a particular country, as referred to sub-rule (3) of rule 17, any anti-dumping duty applied to imports from exporters or producers not included in the examination shall not exceed - (i) the weighted average margin of dumping established with respect to the selected exporters or producers or, (ii) where the liability for payment of anti-dumping duties is calculated on the basis of a prospective normal value, the difference between the weighted average normal value of the selected exporters or producers and the export prices of exporters or producers not individually examined: Provided that the Central Government shall disregard for the purpose of this sub-rule any zero margin, margins which are less than 2 per cent expressed as the percentage of export price and margins established in the circumstances detailed in sub-rule (8) of rule 6. The Central Government shall apply individual duties to imports from any exporter or producer not included in the examination who has provided the necessary information during the course of the investigation as referred to in the second proviso to sub-rule (3) of rule 17.”
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From the aforesaid provisions, it can be seen that while calculating the dumping margin for non-sampled cooperating producers, any zero and de minimis dumping margins for sampled producers will not be considered. However, it is noted that while determining the weighted average dumping margin for non-sampled cooperating producers from subject countries, due to an inadvertent error, the zero and de minimis margins of sampled producers was also taken into account. The error has now been corrected in this final findings, and weighted average dumping margin for non-sampled producers has been re-calculated taking into account provisions of Rules 17(3) and 18 (2) of the AD Rules. There was also an error in the calculation of the margin for the residual category which has also been rectified.
With respect to the submissions made with respect to the domestic industry’s share in the
total production and whether it constitutes a ‘major proportion’ or not, it si noted that the
issue regarding standing and domestic industry’s status has already been examined by the
Authority under the relevant headings in the final findings.
170.
With respect to the determination of dumping margin for Ranu Agro Industries, it is noted,
that there was an inadvertent error in the selection of appropriate cells. The error has been
rectified and the margin has been modified accordingly.
171.
With respect to the changes made in the data pertaining to the domestic industry due to non-
inclusion of sacking cloth in the PUC, it is noted that the same was disclosed to the other
interested parties at the stage of disclosure and sufficient time was granted to them to provide
their comments on the same.
172.
As regards the argument that domestic industry must establish that they were allowed to
supply sacking bags to the domestic market in view of requisition orders, the Authority notes
that the requisition orders cannot be interpreted to imply prohibition from sale for the entire
industry. It only implied an obligation, and once this obligation towards government
procurement/demand was met, the jute mills were free to sell the product in open market.
The Authority notes that these kinds of obligations are imposed by the Office of the Jute
Commissioner from time to time, and are merely intended to ensure timey supply of goods.
It is also noted that the said order concerns only sacking bag for government procurement
and does not concern other products. The Authority has also examined monthly sales of
sacking bag in the open market by the applicant companies. It is seen that the domestic
industry was selling the product in the open market throughout the POI. Thus, the requisition
orders did not stop the sale of goods by the industry in the open market and this could not be
the reason for imports.
173.
The Authority has determined the non-injurious price (NIP) for the domestic industry on the
basis of information furnished by the domestic industry, principles laid down in the Anti-
Dumping Rules read with Annexure III and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP).
174.
The disallowance of expenditure and determination of reasonable return is in accordance
with the principles laid down in Annexure III of the AD Rules. The same was also explained
to domestic industry during verification of data.
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As noted above, despite the marginal decline in the operating performance of the domestic industry during the POI, the domestic industry has largely been able to maintain its profitability during the review investigation period. However, it remains vulnerable to recurrence of dumped imports from subject countries. Therefore, the Authority has examined the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury to the domestic industry. As is evident from the examination undertaken in the above paragraphs, in the present investigation, there is likelihood of recurrence of injury to the domestic industry. Therefore, the Authority has recommended the continuation of duties as determined in the original investigation. The Authority has recommended the present duties on the basis of the following principles:
S.No. Participation Stage and whether Sampled or Non- sampled Duty recommended Exceptions 1 Sampled in SSR and not present in OI Non-sampled cooperative duty as determined in OI 2 Sampled in SSR and OI Individual duties as determined in OI
3 Sampled in SSR and non - sampled in OI Non-sampled cooperative duty as determined in OI
4 Non-sampled in SSR Sampled/Individual Treatment in OI Individual duties as determined in OI. In case of Nepal, all non- sampled producers who were granted individual treatment in OI have been accorded the duties as determined in the OI.
5 Not present in SSR and OI Residual duty as determined in OI
6 Non-sampled in SSR non- sampled in OI Non-sampled cooperative duty as determined OI
7 Non-sampled in SSR but not present in OI Non-sampled duty as determined in OI Sampled highest cooperative duty from OI (Only in case of Nepal as no sampling had been done by the Authority for Nepal in OI).
K. CONCLUSION
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- Having regard to the contentions raised, the information provided, and the submissions
made by the other interested parties and the domestic industry, and the information
available before the Authority, as recorded in the above findings, and on the basis of the
above analysis of the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of the dumping and the
injury to the domestic industry, the Authority concludes that:
a. The product under consideration in the present investigation is “jute products” comprising of jute yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), hessian fabrics and jute sacking bags which is the same as the original investigation. b. The product produced by the domestic industry is like article to the PUC imported from the subject countries. c. The applicant companies constitute as the domestic industry within the meaning of Rule 2(b) of the AD Rules. d. The application contained all the information relevant for the purpose of initiation of the sunset review and the application contained sufficient evidence to justify initiation of the present sunset review.
e. Based on the information on record, the normal value, export price and the dumping margin for the subject goods have been determined. The dumping margin determined for substantial volume of exports from the subject countries remains above de-minimis. f. Despite the marginal decline in the operating performance of the domestic industry during the POI, the domestic industry has largely been able to maintain its profitability during the review investigation period. However, it remains vulnerable to recurrence of dumped imports from subject countries.
g. There is likelihood of recurrence of injury to the domestic industry due to the existence of the following factors:
i. The dumping of the subject goods has continued from Bangladesh and Nepal despite the anti-dumping duties being in force. The volume of imports has also remained significant in absolute and relative terms. The market share of the subject imports has increased significantly and that of the domestic industry has declined. ii. It is also noted that the import volume of jute sacking cloth of Bangladesh has increased significantly after the imposition of duties that led to the circumvention investigation and subsequently, the duties were extended to
jute sacking cloth.
iii. There exist significant surplus capacities with producers in Bangladesh. Further, the production in the subject countries is much higher in comparison to their domestic demand. iv. The producers/exporters in the subject countries are highly export oriented. v. The Government of Bangladesh has enacted certain measures including the provision of subsidies that incentivize exports of jute products. vi. The projected inventories in the subject countries are significant enough to subsume the Indian demand.
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vii. There are significant exports to third countries which are at prices below
the non-injurious price of the domestic industry. A significant share of
exports to third countries are also at dumped prices.
viii. Since India is one of the largest markets, the cessation of anti-dumping
duties from Bangladesh and Nepal, when export price from the subject
countries to third is below the dumped prices from India and are below the
non-injurious prices clearly proves that continuation of duties is necessary
for the Indian industry’s survival. Further, in case of exports from Nepal
the only market is India. Therefore, exports from Nepal will inevitably end
up in the Indian market.
h. In view of the foregoing, in the event of expiry of the existing antidumping duty, there is every likelihood that the dumped imports of the subject goods from the subject countries would increase.
i. It is noted that the continuation of the anti-dumping duties on the imports of the subject goods would be in the interest of domestic producers of the subject goods in India. The fact that this is a capital and labour-intensive industry, the continuation of measure would prevent further injury and give time to the domestic producers to compete against the exporters from the subject countries.
j. Further, the anti-dumping duty on the subject product has been circumvented. There has been an anti-circumvention investigation undertaken by the Authority was against the one of the subject countries in the instant investigation.
-
In In view of the above the Authority finds that there is a likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury in the event of cessation of the existing anti-dumping duties, and therefore, recommends continuation of anti-dumping measures for a further period of five years. L. Recommendations
-
The Authority notes that the investigation was initiated and notified to all the interested parties and adequate opportunity was given to the domestic industry, the exporters, the importers, the users and the other interested parties to provide information on the aspects of dumping, injury and the causal link and also on likelihood of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.
-
Having concluded that there is positive evidence of likelihood of dumping and injury if the existing anti-dumping duties are allowed to cease, the Authority is of the view that the anti-dumping duty in force on the imports of the product under consideration from the subject countries is required to be continued further. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, as established hereinabove, the Designated Authority considers it appropriate to recommend extension of the anti-dumping duties on the imports of the subject goods from the subject countries. Accordingly, the anti-dumping
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duties for producers from Bangladesh and Nepal are recommended as per the duty table
below.
180. Thus, in terms of provision contained in Rule 4(d) and Rule l7(l) (b) of the AD Rules,
the Authority recommends the continued imposition of the existing anti-dumping duties,
so as to remove the likelihood of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.
Accordingly, definitive anti-dumping duty equal to the amount mentioned in column 8
of the duty table below is recommended for the imposition for five (5) years from the
date of the Notification to be issued by the Central Government, on all imports of subject
goods originating in or exported from the subject countries.
DUTY TABLE
S.N.
Heading/
Sub-
heading
Description
of Goods**
Specificati
ons
Country of
Origin
Country of
Export
Producer
Duty
Amount
Currency/Unit
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
- 5307, 5310, 5607 or 6305 Jute Yarn/ Twine In all forms and specificatio ns Bangladesh Any country including Banglades h Hasan Jute Mills Limited NIL US$/ MT
- -do- Sacking Bags -do- -do- -do- Hasan Jute Mills Limited NIL US$/ MT
- -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Alijan Jute Mills Limited 20.35 US$/ MT
- -do- Jute yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Sonali Aansh Industries Limited 20.35 US$/ MT
- -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Sidlaw Textiles (Banglades h) Limited 102.93 US$/ MT
- -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Limited 102.93 US$/ MT
- -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Janata Jute Mills Limited 20.68 US$/ MT
- -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Janata Jute Mills Limited NIL US$/ MT
- -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Asha Jute Industries Ltd. 19.30 US$/ MT
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10 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Pride Jute
Mills
104.16
US$/ MT
11 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Sharif Jute
Mills Ltd.
152.85
US$/ MT
12 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Anwar Jute
Spinning
Mills Ltd.
109.59
US$/ MT
13 -do-
Jute Yarn/
Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Bogra Jute
Mills
Limited
97.19
US$/ MT
14 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
-do-
-do-
Bogra Jute
Mills
Limited
125.21
US$/ MT
15 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
A.M. Jute
Industries
Ltd.
97.19
US$/ MT
16 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
-do-
-do-
A.M. Jute
Industries
Ltd.
351.72
US$/ MT
17 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Hasan Jute
& Spinning
Mills
Limited
97.19
US$/ MT
18 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
-do-
-do-
Hasan Jute
& Spinning
Mills
Limited
125.21
US$/ MT
19 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Ranu Agro
Industries
Limited.
97.19
US$/ MT
20 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
-do-
-do-
Ranu Agro
Industries
Limited.
125.21
US$/ MT
21 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
-do-
-do-
Nawhata
Jute Mills
Limited
351.72
US$/ MT
22 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Mouna Jute
Mills
Limited
97.19
US$/ MT
Page 117 of 122
23 -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Rabeya Jute Mill 97.19 US$/ MT 24 -do- Sacking Bags -do- -do- -do- Rabeya Jute Mill
125.21 US$/ MT 25 -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Rabeya Jute Mill
351.72 US$/ MT 26 -do- Jute yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Oriental Jute Mills Limited
97.19 US$/ MT 27 -do- Sacking Bags -do- -do- -do- Oriental Jute Mills Limited
125.21 US$/ MT 28 -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Oriental Jute Mills Limited
351.72 US$/ MT 29 -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Nawab Abdul Malek Jute Mills (BD) Ltd.
97.19 US$/ MT 30 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Rahman Jute Spinners Pvt Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 31 -do- Sacking Bags -do- -do- -do- Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. 125.21 US$/ MT 32 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Rajbari Jute Mills Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 33 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Usha jute Spinners Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 34 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Madina Jute Industries Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 35 -do- Sacking Bag
-do- -do- -do- Madina Jute 125.21 US$/ MT
Page 118 of 122
Industries Ltd. 36 -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Madina Jute Industries Ltd. 351.72 US$/ MT 37 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Mirza Jute Mills Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 38 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Gem Jute Mill 97.19 US$/ MT 39 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Afzal Fibre Processing Industries 97.19 US$/ MT 40 -do- Sacking Bag -do- -do- -do- Afzal Fibre Processing Industries 125.21 US$/ MT 41 -do- Sacking Bag -do- -do- -do- Anam Jute Products Ltd. 125.21 US$/ MT 42 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Bonanza Jute Composite & Diverse Factory Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 43 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Jamuna Jute Industries Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 44 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Joy Jute Mills Limited 97.19 US$/ MT 45 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Jute Textile Mills Limited 97.19 US$/ MT 46 -do- Jute yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Golden Jute Industries Limited 97.19 US$/ MT 47 -do- Sacking Bag -do- -do- -do- Hasen Jute Industries Limited 125.21 US$/ MT 48 -do- Jute Yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Mazeda Jute Industries Limited 97.19 US$/ MT 49 -do- Jute Yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Reliance Jute Mills Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 50 -do- Jute Yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Salim Agro Industries Limited 97.19 US$/ MT 51 -do- Jute Yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Shamsher Jute Mills Limited 97.19 US$/ MT
Page 119 of 122
52 -do- Sacking Bag
-do- -do- -do- Shamsher Jute Mills Limited 125.21 US$/ MT 53 -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Shamsher Jute Mills Limited 351.72 US$/ MT 54 -do- Jute Yarn/twine -do- -do- -do- Wahab Jute Mills 97.19 US$/ MT 55 -do- Sacking Bag
-do- -do- -do- Wahab Jute Mills 125.21 US$/ MT 56 -do- Hessian Fabric -do- -do- -do- Wahab Jute Mills 351.72 US$/ MT 57 -do- Jute Yarn/Twine -do- -do- -do- Akij Jute Mills Ltd. 97.19 US$/ MT 58 -do- Sacking Bag
-do- -do- -do- Akij Jute Mills Ltd. 125.21 US$/ MT 59 -do- Sacking Bag
-do-
-do-
-do-
Lovely Jute
Mills Ltd.
125.21
US$/ MT
60 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
162.45
US$/ MT
61 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
138.97
US$/ MT
62 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
351.72
US$/ MT
63 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Bangladesh
Any
country
other than
above
Any
162.45
US$/ MT
64 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Bangladesh
Any
country
other than
above
Any
138.97
US$/ MT
65 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Bangladesh
Any
country
other than
above
Any
351.72
US$/ MT
66 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Banglades
h
Any
162.45
US$/ MT
67 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Banglades
h
Any
138.97
US$/ MT
68 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Banglades
h
Any
351.72
US$/ MT
69 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
Arihant
Multi-
fibres Ltd.
24.61
US$/ MT
Page 120 of 122
including
Nepal
70 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Arihant
Multi-
fibres Ltd.
35.25
US$/ MT
71 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Arihant
Multi-
fibres Ltd.
NIL
US$/ MT
72 -do-
Jute
yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Shree
Raghupati
Jute Mills
Ltd.
24.61
US$/ MT
73 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Shree
Raghupati
Jute Mills
Ltd.
35.25
US$/ MT
74 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Shree
Raghupati
Jute Mills
Ltd.
NIL
US$/ MT
75 -do-
Jute
yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Swastik
Jute Mills
Ltd.
15.36
US$/ MT
76 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Swastik
Jute Mills
Ltd.
8.18
US$/ MT
77 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Swastik
Jute Mills
Ltd.
34.20
US$/ MT
78 -do-
Jute
yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Baba Jute
Mills
26.07
US$/ MT
79 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Baba Jute
Mills
33.73
US$/ MT
80 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Baba Jute
Mills
6.30
US$/ MT
81 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Nepal Jute
Industries
Pvt. Ltd.
26.07
US$/ MT
82
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
including
Nepal
Nepal Jute
Industries
Pvt. Ltd.
35.25
US$/ MT
Page 121 of 122
83 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
28.72
US$/ MT
84 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
8.18
US$/ MT
85 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
-do-
-do-
Any
producer
other than
S.N. above
38.90
US$/ MT
86 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
other than
above
Any
28.72
US$/ MT
87 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
other than
above
Any
8.18
US$/ MT
88 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Nepal
Any
country
other than
above
Any
38.90
US$/ MT
89 -do-
Jute
Yarn/Twine
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Nepal
Any
28.72
US$/ MT
90 -do-
Sacking
Bags
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Nepal
Any
8.18
US$/ MT
91 -do-
Hessian
Fabric
-do-
Any country
other than
above
Nepal
Any
38.90
US$/ MT
**“Jute Products” comprising of Jute Yarn/twine (multiple folded/cabled and single), Hessian Fabrics and Jute Sacking bags.
-
Further having regard to the Final findings notified by the Authority vide Notification No. 7/3/2018-DGAD, dated 19th March 2019 recommending extension of existing anti- dumping duty on ‘jute sacking cloth’ originating in or exported from Bangladesh, and further imposition of the same by the Ministry of Finance vide Notification No. 24/2019- Customs (ADD) dated 18th June, 2019, the Authority is of the view that the ADD is also required to be extended to imports of ‘jute sacking cloth’ from Bangladesh for all exporters of jute sacking cloth from Bangladesh except for the following producers for which exemption had been granted from the extension of duties in the above notification:
-
M/s Mouna Jute Mills Ltd.
-
M/s Arnu Jute Mills Limited
-
M/s Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd.
Mis Jamuna Jute Industries Limited 5. Mis Sagar Jute Spinning Mills Limited 6. Mis Sidlaw Textiles (Bangladesh) Limited 7. Mis Partex Jute Mills Limited Bangladesh 8. Mis Asha Jute Industries Limited 9. Mis Nawhata Jute Mills Ltd. 10. Mis Mymensingh Jute Mills Ltd. M. Further procedure 182. An appeal against the order of the Central Government that may arise out of this recommendation shall lie before the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal in accordance with the relevant provisions ofthe Act. %±5 (Designated Authority) Page 122 of 122
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