India Locks on 23 Categories of Chinese Products as New Tariff Policy Arrives

Introduction

​​In September 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India intensively issued anti-dumping and countervailing measures targeting 23 categories of Chinese products, spanning multiple industrial sectors including chemicals, metal products, electronics, papermaking, rubber, and plastics. This article interprets the policy list and analyzes case studies to reveal the motivations behind the policies, their impact transmission paths, and potential coping strategies.​​

Complete List of 23 Product Categories and Tariff Details

​​I. ​​Machinery Industry (5 categories)​​

Mobile cranes with lifting capacity of 25-260 tons: 24.87%-52.03% anti-dumping duty

Crawler cranes: 24.87%-52.03% anti-dumping duty

Cold-rolled non-grain-oriented electrical steel: 223.82−414.92 per ton

Cold-rolled flat products of stainless steel: Require processing and transshipment via a third country

Hydraulic cylinders: 15.3%-28.7% tariff increase

II.Chemical Industry (8 categories)​​

Resorcinol: Minimum import price of $6,244 per ton (approx. 35% higher than current price)

Organic phosphonates: Under investigation

4-Aminodiphenylamine: Final ruling for duty imposition

Antioxidants: Up to $761 per ton (companies like Tianjin Li'anlong obtained zero-rate exemptions)

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber: Russian companies received zero-duty reference case

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): 12.5%-18.3% tariff increaseEpoxy resins: Anti-dumping investigation initiated

Dye intermediates: Up to 12.7% ad valorem duty

III. ​​Paper Industry (2 categories)​​

Virgin multi-layer paperboard (140-450GSM): 152.27−221.36 per ton anti-dumping duty

Solid Bleached Sulphate board: 152.27−221.36 per ton anti-dumping duty

IV.​​Consumer Goods Industry (5 categories)​​

Mobile phone cases (silicone, plastic, etc.): Involving HS codes 3926, 8517

PVC wallpapers: Under anti-dumping review (excluding digitally customized and natural material types)

Non-woven wallpapers: Under anti-dumping review

Black toner cartridges: 0.65−1.28 per unit anti-dumping duty

Ceramic tableware: 15%-20% tariff increase

V.​​Electronics Industry (3 categories)​​

Lithium-ion battery components: 10% additional tariff

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs): 12.5% tariff increase

LED drive power supplies: Anti-dumping investigation initiated

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Case Studies of Key Industry Tariff Adjustments

​​I. ​​Chemical Industry: Anti-dumping Investigation on Organic Phosphonates​

​India initiated an anti-dumping investigation on organic phosphonates, involving key water treatment agents like HEDP acid and ATMP acid. The preliminary determined duty range is 2.5/kgto5.8/kg, directly affecting China's annual exports worth approximately $120 million. The investigation specifically excludes food-grade products, reflecting an intent to balance policy impacts.

II. ​​Metal Products Industry: Aluminum Foil and Stainless Steel Products​​

In the aluminum foil sector (HS codes 760711, 760719), countervailing duties of 10.8%-32.5% are imposed on double-zero aluminum foil with thickness ≤0.2mm. For cold-rolled stainless steel flat products under investigation, anti-dumping duties are set as high as 57.3%-73.7%, demonstrating precise control over different market segments.

III. ​​Electronics Industry: Finished Products and Production Tools

​​Safeguard tariffs of 15%-20% are imposed on mobile phone protective cases, affecting China's exports worth about $800 million. The basic tariff of 7.5% is maintained for precision tools used in PCB production, reflecting an industrial development model of "restricting finished product imports + ensuring key production links".​

 

Multi-dimensional Impact Assessment of Tariff Policy Adjustments​​

From the perspective of Chinese exporters, tariff increases directly compress profit margins. Nitrile rubber exports to India amount to 120million,andPVCexportsreach9.4297 billion, indicating significant impact. In the Indian market, tariff adjustments reshape the price system and industrial chain layout. The average retail price of wallpaper has increased by 22%-28%, and local capacity expansion is evident. Regarding China-India economic and trade relations, trade friction intensifies. In 2024, India initiated 28 trade remedy cases against China, involving $12.4 billion, accounting for 3.8% of the total China-India trade volume.

​​Summary of Key Impact Indicators​​

Short-term cost shock: Profit compression ratio for machinery and equipment products is up to 67%.

Price transmission effect: Average increase in wallpaper retail prices is 22%-28%.

Industrial migration trend: Investment in Indian local substitution capacity increased by 63%.

Escalation of trade friction: Number of trade remedy cases in 2024 increased by 47% year-on-year.

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Conclusion

​​India's tariff policy adjustments towards China exhibit dual attributes as both trade protection tools and industrial policy levers. They increase export costs in the short term but may force industrial upgrading in the long run. Chinese enterprises need to build a dual-track system of "legal response + strategic transformation" and closely monitor subsequent investigation progress. These policy adjustments pose new challenges to China-India economic and trade relations, reflecting the trend of composite use of policy tools by emerging economies in industrial competition.​​

 

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