ALEMA seeks removal of 8.25% aluminium import duty, calls for 10-year relief

India's downstream aluminium manufacturers have urged the government to remove the 8.25 per cent import duty on primary aluminium, arguing that the existing tariff structure increases production costs and weakens their competitiveness. The Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMA) has also called for a 10-year period of duty relief to help domestic manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), strengthen their operations and expand capacity. The demand comes as the industry welcomes the Directorate General of Trade Remedies' (DGTR) decision to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into imports of aluminium extrusion profiles, structures and related articles from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. However, the association believes that...