New Delhi: Imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties by US has adversely affected export of Indian steel products, particularly hot rolled steel, the Rajya Sabha was informed on March 19.

"Due to imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties by the US authorities, exports of steel products like hot rolled steel and cut-to-length carbon steel plates from India to US have been affected adversely," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy said in a written reply.

Imports of hot rolled steel by US dropped by 91 per cent in the first half of 2001 compared to the same period of 2000. It is almost non-existent now. Similarly import of cut-to-length carbon steel plates by US from India between 1998-2000 has dropped by 98 per cent, he said.

India has taken up imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing (anti-subsidy) duties on cut-to-length carbon steel plates with the Dispute Settlement Body of World Trade Organisation (WTO), he said.

US authorities are currently investigating imposition of anti-dumping duty on cold- rolled steel products, he said, adding, "Preliminarily the dumping margin ranging from 7 per cent to 153 per cent has been determined."

To another question, Rudy said that the synchronised global slowdown coupled with the September 11 event and its aftermath had led to lower export growth during the early months of current financial year.

However, India's exports of merchandise goods have picked up and are valued at $ 36.526 billion during April-January, which is 1.56 per cent higher than $ 35.963 billion a year ago.

PTI