Domestic industry suffers from delayed anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports. Cheaper Chinese crawlers and truck cranes continue to enter India. Local manufacturers face severe impact and some have shut operations. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies recommended duties in September 2025. Final customs notification awaits finance ministry approval for implementation.
New Delhi: Slow implementation of anti-dumping duties against China even after decisions of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) seems to be hurting domestic industry and weighing on the government's ambitious 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
One such case has been repeatedly red-flagged to several top offices in the government - that of cheaper Chinese crawlers, weighing up to 260 tonnes, and truck cranes of up to 160 tonnes, which continue to be heavily imported into the country for construction work despite a DGTR anti-dumping duty decision in September 2025.
The same has yet to be applied as it awaits final customs department notification, which can happen only after approval from the nodal finance ministry. The ministry didn't respond to ET's queries on the reasons for delay in issuing the notification.
Notably, local equipment manufacturers have also made several representations to the government on the matter.
Chinese imports of heavy construction cranes and machinery continue despite the government identifying the sector as a priority for indigenisation. (Inforgraphic Image)
Uninterrupted Chinese imports continue despite heavy construction cranes and construction machinery being identified by the government, including by the chief economic advisor, as one of the priority areas for indigenisation. Heavy duty cranes are deployed for lifting and shifting of material at large infrastructure sites - from roads and bridges to refineries, cement plants and defence projects.
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TIL Ltd, Kobelco India, Tadano Escorts India, ABG Cranes and Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company to shut manufacturing operations due to "aggressive dumping" by China, domestic industry representatives submitted to DGTR.
The dithering comes in the backdrop of top officials prescribing a strong Swadeshi model amid global turbulence and tariff threats.