WTC has represented more than 31 producers/exporters and theGovernments/Chambers/Associations of participating countries in over 17 investigations initiated by Indian Investigating Authorities.
There are three types of Safeguard Investigationsused by the Indian Authorities, which are:
- Normal Safeguard Investigations, which are applicable to all the world universally;
- Bilateral Safeguard Investigations, which are specific to imports from one country; and
- Quantitative Restrictions Safeguard Measures, which are applicable universally to everyone, but the aim is to limit/control the quantitative aspect of imports.
Special laws are made by Government of India in respect of Initiation of Bilateral Safeguards Investigations with countries having CEPA Agreements with India. Till date India has initiated only two such investigations and our firm has filed representations in both cases.
Whereas, India is very new to Quantitative Restrictions Safeguard investigations. Only one such investigation has been initiated till date, i.e., in November 2019 and our firm is representing various interested producers/exporters in this case as well.
Safeguard investigations in India are governed by Agreement on Implementation of Article XIX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Customs Tariff Act, 1975 – Section 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B & 9C (as amended in 1997 and thereafter) and SafeguardDuty Rules [Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Safeguard Duty) Rules, 1997] & Customs Tariff (Transitional Product Specific Safeguard Duty) Rules, 2002)