STEEL EXPORTS TO CHINA
RAJYA
SABHA
In May 2002. China
initiated safeguard investigations against import of various categories
of steel from several countries, including India. In November
2002 the investigations were completed and final safeguard measures
in the form of quotas on five categories of steel items were imposed
with additional tariff in case the imports exceed the relevant
quota. These measures would be in place for the next two and a
half years. However, these measures do not apply to India.
In accordance
with the WTO rules China has exempted the developing countries,
including India from the safeguard measures. However, the exemption
is subject to the condition that import share of a developing
country in a particular category should not exceed 3% of China's
total import volume in that category.
A delegation
led by the Minister of State for Steel visited China from May
18-23, 2002. The purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities
of cooperation in the Iron and Steel sector. The public sector
undertakings under the Ministry of Steel also send delegations
to China to promote exports, source raw materials and explore
areas of co-operation. The Embassy of India, Beijing has also
identified products which are in demand under the Harmonised System
Code 72 (Iron and Steel) in the Chinese market and the necessary
information has been forwarded to the concerned Indian Chambers
of Commerce/Exports Councils and industry players active in the
field of Iron and Steel. The Indian Steel Alliance, working under
the aegis of the confederation of India Industry (CII), has already
initiated talks with the Chinese government and steel companies
in China to increase trade between the two countries.
The Ministry
is thus actively involved in various promotional efforts in consultation
with the Industry and their Associations. The Government is fully
discharging its role as a facilitator in a liberalised environment
and helping the industry to adequately exploit the market potential.
This information
was given by the Minister of State for Steel Shri Braja Kishore
Tripathy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
