Cheap Chinese imports hurting rubber MSME sector: Rubber Board

New Delhi, Apr 30 (KNN) The rubber tyre industry, mainly from the MSME sector, has filed a petition before the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) for imposing anti-dumping duty on import of Chinese tyres hurting the local industries.

"Influx of cheap imports from China is hurting the rubber MSME sector. Tariff concessions offered under Free Trade Agreements could be leading to a surge in imports. Dumping of finished rubber products also can't be ruled out which is causing distress especially for the sector," Rubber Board Chairman A Jayathilak said while speaking at the National Rubber Conference organised by All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) on Friday.

"Tyre industry has filed a petition before the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD) for imposing anti-dumping duty on import of Chinese tyres and it is being examined," Jayathilak said on the sidelines of the event.

India's import of truck and bus radial tyre (TBR) has surged by 64 per cent to 12.8 lakh units in 2015-16 from 7.8 lakh units in the previous fiscal.

"Rubber Board places equal importance on the development of both natural rubber producing and consuming interests. Both industry and plantations are equally close to our heart. We cannot take sides," Jayathilak said. (With Inputs from Media Reports)