New Delhi, Apr 30 (KNN) A coalition of American ceramic tile manufacturers has urged the US government to impose hefty tariffs on ceramic tile imports from India.

The Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile (FTCT), representing over 90 per cent of US tile production, has petitioned the US International Trade Commission claiming that Indian tile exporters receive substantial government subsidies, reported BS.

This allows them to flood the US market with low-priced tiles, undercutting domestic manufacturers, claimed FTCT.

The FTCT is seeking the imposition of anti-dumping duties estimated in the range of 408 per cent to 828 per cent on Indian ceramic tiles. They allege ongoing “massive and widespread dumping” of subsidised Indian tiles into the American market.

The possible implementation of tariffs on ceramic tile imports from India to the US could impact the prices per square foot of tiles, potentially making it unfeasible for Indian manufacturers to export.

Indian tile exports to the US have surged from just 344,000 square feet in 2013 to nearly 405 million square feet by the end of 2022, according to the allegations. The FTCT claims this dramatic rise has injured and threatens to further harm the American tile industry and jobs.

The US Department of Commerce has initiated investigations in response to the FTCT petition. If it determines Indian tiles are unfairly traded and have damaged US manufacturers, preliminary tariffs could be imposed within months. Final duties, calculated retroactively, may follow after approximately 16 months.

Indian authorities have not yet responded to the subsidy allegations. The investigations cover various ceramic tiles including flooring, wall, paving, porcelain and mosaic tiles fired from mineral mixtures like clay.

The outcome could significantly impact India's burgeoning ceramic tile export industry, which has found a growing market in the US over the past decade amid accusations of pricing it cannot match through fair trade.

(KNN Bureau)