New Delhi — Slow implementation of anti-dumping duties against China, even after decisions by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), is hurting domestic industry and weighing on the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, according to The Economic Times. A DGTR recommendation in September 2025 to impose duties on cheaper Chinese crawlers and truck cranes has yet to become a final customs notification, pending approval from the finance ministry.
Chinese crawlers and cranes still entering India
Cheaper Chinese crawlers, weighing up to 260 tonnes, and truck cranes of up to 160 tonnes, continue to be heavily imported into India for construction work despite the DGTR anti-dumping duty decision in September 2025, The Economic Times reported. The case has been repeatedly red-flagged to several top offices in the government, but the duties have not been applied. The final customs department notification can be issued only after approval from the nodal finance ministry; the ministry did not respond to ET's queries on the reasons for the delay.
Heavy duty cranes are deployed for lifting and shifting of material at large infrastructure sites, including:
- roads and bridges
- refineries
- cement plants
- defence projects
Domestic industry suffers directly from the delay, according to the report, with local manufacturers facing severe impact and some having already shut operations.
Domestic manufacturers face shutdowns
Local equipment manufacturers have made several representations to the government on the matter, ET reported. Domestic industry representatives submitted to the DGTR that TIL Ltd, Kobelco India, Tadano Escorts India, ABG Cranes and Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company are to shut manufacturing operations due to "aggressive dumping" by China.
TIL Ltd, Kobelco India, Tadano Escorts India, ABG Cranes and Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company are to shut manufacturing operations due to aggressive dumping by China — domestic industry representatives submitted to DGTR.
| Company | Status per DGTR submission |
|---|---|
| TIL Ltd | To shut manufacturing operations |
| Kobelco India | To shut manufacturing operations |
| Tadano Escorts India | To shut manufacturing operations |
| ABG Cranes | To shut manufacturing operations |
| Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company | To shut manufacturing operations |
Anti-dumping process timeline
The September 2025 DGTR recommendation covers anti-dumping duties on Chinese crawlers and truck cranes, but implementation depends on the customs department and finance ministry.
| Date / Step | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | DGTR recommends anti-dumping duties on Chinese crawlers and truck cranes | Completed |
| After September 2025 | Final customs notification to implement duties | Pending finance ministry approval |
| As of 1 August 2026 | ET report published; duties still not applied | Delay continues |
Swadeshi push under strain
Uninterrupted Chinese imports continue despite heavy construction cranes and construction machinery being identified by the government, including by the chief economic advisor, as one of the priority areas for indigenisation, ET reported. The dithering comes in the backdrop of top officials prescribing a strong Swadeshi model amid global turbulence and tariff threats. The finance ministry has not responded to ET's queries on the reasons for the delay, and no customs notification has been issued, according to the report. The ET report stated that domestic industry suffers from delayed anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports, with local manufacturers facing severe impact and some having already shut operations.
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