India advanced an anti-dumping investigation into ethambutol hydrochloride imported from China and Thailand on Monday, October 27th. Ethambutol hydrochloride is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in anti-tuberculosis drugs.
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) of India initiated this investigation last month. Prior to this, Indian pharmaceutical giant Lupin filed the complaint, alleging that ethambutol hydrochloride imported from China and Thailand was unfairly dumped at low prices, harming the interests of Indian producers. The company requested Indian authorities to conduct an anti-dumping investigation.
This investigation comes as India escalates efforts to combat unfair trade practices detrimental to domestic industries. In September, the DGTR issued final investigation results in 15 cases related to such behaviors, covering various sectors such as fiberglass, steel, solar panels, and chemical products.
In a statement released on Monday, Lupin was identified as a domestic industry participant by the DGTR, while the Chinese manufacturer “Wuhan Wuyao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.” was listed as one of the foreign companies under investigation.
The DGTR stated that there is evidence of dumping and harm, as imported products are being sold below domestic market prices.
The investigation period spans from April 2024 to March 2025. If the investigation confirms damage to the Indian domestic industry, anti-dumping duties may be imposed.
In September, the DGTR initiated 13 new cases involving anti-dumping and countervailing duties, primarily targeting imports from China and South Korea.
China’s dumping issues have sparked growing resistance in recent years. Japan announced on July 22 that it was conducting an anti-dumping investigation into nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled sheets and strips imported from mainland China and Taiwan. Japanese companies including Nippon Steel submitted an application on May 12, stating that Japanese domestic demand weakened due to buyers switching to cheaper imports, forcing local companies to lower prices and resulting in business losses. These companies have requested the Japanese government to launch an investigation.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, along with the Ministry of Finance, plan to complete the investigation within a year and then decide whether to impose anti-dumping duties.