India plans to introduce a temporary 12% safeguard duty on certain steel imports to address a rise in low-cost shipments; mainly from China, South Korea, and Japan; according to a government source.
The measure, recommended by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, would apply for 200 days and aims to protect domestic producers impacted by rising imports.
India, the world’s second-largest crude steel producer, became a net importer of finished steel for the second year in a row in 2024/25, with imports reaching 9.5 million metric tons—a nine-year high. Steelmakers have warned that the import surge is hurting local mills and prompting potential job cuts.
“This move will provide critical relief to domestic producers, especially small and medium-scale enterprises, who have faced immense pressure from rising imports,” said India’s Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy.
India remained a net importer of finished steel for the second consecutive year in 2024/25, with imports reaching a nine-year high of 9.5 million metric tons, based on provisional government data.
