In order to provide comprehensive and swift trade defence mechanism the Indian government has created an integrated single umbrella national authority to be called the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 have been amended in this regards on 7th of May, 2018.
The Press Release issued for the purpose notes that trade defence mechanism in India lacks optimality and takes more than a year to complete proceedings in cases pertaining to unfair trade practices.
DGTR will bring Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties, Directorate General of Safeguards, and Safeguards (QR) functions of DGFT into its fold by merging them into one single national entity, dealing with Anti-dumping, CVD and Safeguard measures.
Currently, the DGAD deals with anti-dumping and CVD cases, DGS deals with Safeguard measures and DGFT deals with quantitative restriction (QR) safeguards.
The new directorate will provide trade defence support to the Indian domestic industry and exporters in dealing with increasing instances of trade remedy investigations instituted against them by other countries.
The DGTR will be a professionally integrated organisation with multi-spectrum skill and it will also bring in substantial reduction of the time taken to provide relief to the domestic industry.
11 May 2018