At a glance
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is India's single investigating agency for trade remedies: anti-dumping duty, countervailing (anti-subsidy) duty and safeguard measures. It examines complaints from domestic industry, holds a quasi-judicial investigation and recommends a duty. The duty itself is imposed by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) through a customs notification.
Key facts
- Set up: May 2018 (Allocation of Business Rules amended on 7 May 2018)
- Formed by merging: Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), Directorate General of Safeguards, and the safeguard (quantitative restriction) functions of DGFT
- Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Nature: quasi-judicial investigating authority
- Head: Director General (Additional Secretary rank); Amitabh Kumar as of mid-2026
- HQ: New Delhi
- Anti-dumping duty law: Section 9A, Customs Tariff Act, 1975
- Countervailing duty law: Section 9, Customs Tariff Act, 1975
- Safeguard duty law: Section 8B, Customs Tariff Act, 1975
- Imposing authority: Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue
- Appeals against final duties: CESTAT
How it works
The three remedies.
| Remedy | Problem tackled | Country-specific? | Law (Customs Tariff Act) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-dumping duty | Exports sold below normal value (home price or cost) | Yes | Section 9A |
| Countervailing duty | Exports helped by foreign government subsidies | Yes | Section 9 |
| Safeguard duty | Sudden surge of imports, even if fairly traded | No (applies to all sources) | Section 8B |
Process. Domestic producers file an application; the DGTR checks they represent enough of Indian output and starts an investigation. It must establish three things: dumping (or subsidy), injury to domestic industry, and a causal link between the two. Interested parties (exporters, importers, users) are heard. The DGTR then issues final findings recommending a duty, usually no higher than the dumping margin (lesser duty rule).
After findings. The Finance Ministry decides whether to accept the recommendation, normally within three months. An anti-dumping duty lasts up to five years and can be extended after a sunset review. The legal basis internationally is the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement (GATT Article VI).
Recent developments
- 24 Oct 2026: Department of Revenue reimposed anti-dumping duty of US$460–681 per tonne on certain titanium dioxide imports from China for five years, on DGTR final findings of 3 August 2026; an earlier duty (May 2025) had been withdrawn after the Calcutta High Court ordered reconsideration.
Exam traps
- DGTR recommends; the Finance Ministry imposes. DGTR does not collect duty.
- DGTR is under the Commerce Ministry, not the Finance Ministry, even though duties are notified by the Department of Revenue.
- Safeguard duty is not country-specific and does not require unfair trade; anti-dumping and countervailing duties target specific countries.
- DGTR (trade remedies) is different from DGFT (foreign trade policy, export-import licensing) and the CCI (domestic competition).
Quick check
- Q: Under which section of the Customs Tariff Act is anti-dumping duty imposed? A: Section 9A.
- Q: Which ministry is the DGTR attached to? A: Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce).
- Q: How long does an anti-dumping duty normally last? A: Up to five years, extendable after a sunset review.
Further reading
Sources
- https://www.commerce.gov.in/ministryofcommerce/node/3310
- https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2018/05/18/creation-of-directorate-general-of-trade-remedies-dgtr-in-department-of-commerce
- https://lakshmisri.com/newsroom/news-briefings/directorate-general-of-trade-remedies-created-in-department-of-commerce
- https://www.polymerupdate.com/Blogs/Details/1491720/All
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