Government revokes anti-dumping duty imposed on Amoxicillin imports from China

New Delhi: Through a recent gazette notification, the Central Government has revoked the anti-dumping duty imposed on 'Amoxycillin' also known as 'Amoxycillin Trihydrate' originating in or exported from China PR and imported into India. The product falls under tariff item 2941 10 30 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975).

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), the Central Government revokes the anti-dumping duty imposed on 'Amoxycillin' also known as 'Amoxycillin Trihydrate', falling under tariff item 2941 10 30 of the First Schedule to the said Act, originating in or exported from China PR and imported into India and hereby rescinds the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) No. 21/2017-Customs(ADD) dated the 16th May, 2017, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 476(E), dated 16th May, 2017, except as respect things done or omitted to be done before such rescission,"  the recent Gazette notification read.

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections i.e., middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. The antibiotic can be taken by mouth, or less commonly by injection.

In 2017 the government of India had levied definitive anti-dumping duty on import of Amoxycillin originating in or exported from China PR for a period of five years. This came in light to protect domestic production of the molecule as the government had reached the conclusion that

(i) the presence of dumped imports in the country is suppressing the prices of the domestic industry;

(ii) imports are undercutting the prices of the domestic industry and that the price undercutting has led to significant increase in market share of imports and decline in market share of the Indian industry;

(iii) material injury to the domestic industry has been caused by dumped imports.