India imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Pretilachlor Imports from China to Protect Domestic Industry
Pretilachlor is an important agrochemical widely used as a herbicide in agriculture
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Revenue, has imposed an anti-dumping duty on the import of Pretilachlor and its intermediate chemical "2,6-Diethyl-n-(2-propoxy ethyl) Aniline" (PEDA) originating from the People’s Republic of China. The decision, notified in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary, No. 17/2025-Customs (ADD)), aims to curb the dumping of these chemicals into the Indian market at prices below their normal value, which has caused material injury to domestic manufacturers.
Pretilachlor is an important agrochemical widely used as a herbicide in agriculture. The Directorate Generalof Trade Remedies (DGTR) conducted an investigation following complaints from domestic producers alleging that Chinese exporters were selling Pretilachlor and its intermediate at dumped prices. The final findings of the DGTR, dated March 21, 2025, concluded that:
- The subject goods were being exported to India at prices below normal value, constituting dumping;
- This dumping resulted in material injury to the Indian domestic industry;
- The landed import prices were undercutting the selling prices of Indian manufacturers, thereby harming local producers.
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Based on these findings, the government has imposed anti-dumping duties on various tariff classifications under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, covering multiple chemical forms and mixtures of Pretilachlor and PEDA.
The anti-dumping duties vary according to the exporter and producer in China and include rates such as USD 1,305.6 to USD 1,976.2 per metric ton depending on the company involved. Some of the major Chinese producers named in the notification include Anhui Futian Agrochemical Co. Ltd., Inner Mongolia Lange Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Lion Agrevo (Nantong) Co. Ltd., and Hangzhou Nutrichem Co. Ltd., among others. For other producers from China not specifically listed, the duty rate has been fixed at USD 2,017.9 per metric ton.
The anti-dumping duty is also applicable to imports exported from countries other than China if the goods originate in China, thereby preventing circumvention through third countries.
This duty is set to be in force for five years starting from the date of publication of the notification on June 19, 2025, unless revoked, superseded, or amended earlier. It will be payable in Indian Rupees, based on the exchange rate on the date of entry of the goods into India.
The move comes amid growing concerns about unfair trade practices that undermine India’s domestic agrochemical sector. Pretilachlor, being a key herbicide, has significant demand in India’s vast agricultural market. The dumping of low-priced imports had led to severe price undercutting, threatening the viability of domestic manufacturers and the broader agrochemical supply chain.
Industry experts have welcomed the government’s intervention, noting that the anti-dumping duty will help stabilize prices and encourage domestic production capacity expansion. “This is a positive step toward ensuring a level playing field for Indian manufacturers who face unfair competition from dumped imports,” said an industry spokesperson.
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The government’s decision aligns with global trade norms under the World Trade Organization (WTO) that permit anti-dumping measures to protect local industries from injury caused by unfair pricing practices.
Importers and exporters involved in Pretilachlor trade are advised to take note of the new duty structure and comply with customs regulations to avoid penalties.
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