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EXTRAORDINARY
PART I —Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 250] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY , OCTOBER 3, 2023/ ASVINA 11, 1945
CG-DL-E-04102023-249130
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Department of Commerce
(Directorate General of Trade Remedies )
INITIATION NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th September , 2023
Case No. AD(SSR) - 08/2023
Subject: Initiatio n of sunset review investigation concerning imports of anti-dumping duties concerning
imports of “Digital Offset Printing Plates” (DOPP) originating in or exported from China PR, Japan, Korea
RP, Vietnam , and Taiwan.
F. No. 7/20/2023 -DGTR .—M/s Technova Im aging Systems (P) Lt d (hereinafter referred to as the
‘applicant ’), has filed an application before the Designated Authority (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Authority’), on
behalf of the domestic industry, in accordance with the Customs Ta riff Act, 1975 a s amended from time to time
(hereinafter referred as the ‘Act’) and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment , and Collection of Anti -
Dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, as amended from time to time
(hereinaft er referred to as the ‘Rules’), seeking initiation of a sunset review investigation for continued imposition of
anti-dumping dut ies levied on imports of “Digital Offset Printing Plates” ( hereinafter referred to as the ‘subject
goods’), ori ginating in or e xported from China PR, Japan, Korea RP, Vietnam and Taiwan (hereinafter referred to as
the “subject countr ies”).
2. In terms of Section 9A (5) of the Act and Rule 23 (1B) of the AD Rules , the anti -dumping duties imposed
shall, unless revoked e arlier, cease to have effect on expiry of five years from the date of such imposition and
the Authority is required to review the need for the continued imposition of the anti -dumping dut ies, and to
assess whether the expiry of the duty is likely to lead t o continuation o r recurrence of dumping and injury. In
accordance with the same, the Authority is required to review, on the basis of a duly substantiated request
made by or on behalf of the domestic industry as to whether there is a need for the continued imposition of
the anti -dumping duty, and whether the expiry of the duty is likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of
dumping and injury.
A. Background
3. The original investigation concerning impo rts of the subject goods from the subject countries was initiated
by the Authority vide Notification No. 6/7/2019 -DGTR dated 16.05.2019 . The Final Findings were issued by
the Authority vide Notification No. 6/7/2019 -DGTR dated 15.05.2020 , recommending the imposition of
definitive anti -dumping duties.
4. On th e basis of the said recommendation, definitive anti -dumping dut ies were imposed by the Central
Government vide Custom Notification No. 21/2020 -Customs ( ADD) dated 29.07.2020 on the imports of the
subject goods, originating in or exported from subject countr ies. The current anti -dumping dut ies are in force
up to 28.07.2025.
B. Product under Consideration
5. The product under consideration in the present investigation is Digital Offset Printing Plates (“product under
consideration” or “PUC” or “subject goods” or “D igital Plates” or “Digital Offset Printing Plates”).
6. In the original investigation, the product scop e concluded by the Authority was as under:
“The product under consideration is “Digital Offset Printing Plates”. Digital offset
printing plates are used in the printing industry for transferring data as an image onto
paper or on non -absorbent substrates li ke tin sheets or poly films, etc. In the printing
process using Digital Offset Printing Plates, the digital workflow enables direct
transfer of the image f rom a ‘computer to the plate’ (CtP) using lasers, unlike the
analog workflow that requires an interme diary film to transfer the image. Digital Plates
are made from high purity litho -grade aluminium coils coated with a chemical coating.
Digital Offset Print ing Plates may be either positive (non -exposed area forms image)
or negative (exposed area forms imag e) working plates. The range includes plates that
require chemicals for processing the plates; and also, environmentally friendly that
require no chemicals or water for processing. The coating formulations vary for
different types of plates. There are thre e types of digital offset printing plates namely,
i. Thermal Plates;
ii. Violet Plates;
iii. CtCP/UV CtP Plates.
The Authority has taken note of post -disclosure com ments and holds that all types of
Digital Offset Printing Plates in all dimensions and thicknesses are covered within the
scope of the product under consideration. However, waterless CtP plates are excluded
from the scope of the PUC for reasons elaborated above.
7. The present investigation being a sunset review investigation, the scope of the PUC remains the same as in
the original investigation.
8. The parties to the present investigation may provide their comments on the PUC and propose PCNs, if any,
within 15 days of circulation of the non -confidential version of the application filed before the Authority as
indicated in paragraph 29 of this initiation notification .
C. Like Article
9. The applicant has submitted that the subject goods produced by them and the subje ct goods imported from
the subject countries are like articles. There is no known difference between the subject goods exported from
the subject countries and those produced by the Petitioner. Digital Plates produced by the Petitioner and
imported from the subject countries are comparable in terms of essential product characterist ics such as
physical and chemical characteristics, manufacturing process and technology, functions and uses, product
specifications, pricing, distribution and marketing, and tariff classification. Consumers can use and have been
using the two interchangeab ly. The two are technically and commercially substitutable and hence should be
treated as ‘like article’ under the Rules. Therefore, for the purpose of the present investigation, t he subject
goods produced by the Petitioner are being treated as ‘Like Artic le’ to the subject goods being imported from
the subject countries.
D. Domestic Industry & Standing
10. The application for the sunset review investigation has been filed by M/s Technova Imaging System (P) Ltd.
The applicant is not related to the exporters or importers of the alleged dumped article. However, the
applicant has imported insignificant volume s of the subject goods from both subject and non -subject
countries owi ng to the reason of maintenance regular shutdown s of two of its manufacturing units. The
applicant has certified that the imports made by them during the POI were in small quantities as compared to
their production of the subject goods. Apart from the appl icant, there is one other major producer in India,
viz. HL Printech Solutions Pvt Ltd. Out of the total domestic production in India, the applicant’s production
share amounts to 96%. Since the production of the applicant accounts for a major proportion of the total
produc tion of the subject goods in India, the applicant satisfies the standing and constitutes domestic industry
within the meaning of the AD Rules.
E. Subject Countr ies
11. The subject countr ies for the present investigation are China PR, Japan, Korea RP, Vietnam , and Taiwan.
F. Period of Investigation
12. The period of investigation (POI) for the present sunset review investigation is from April 2022 to March
2023 (12 months) . The injury examination period is from 1st April 2019 - 31st March 2020, 1st April 2020 -
31st Ma rch 2021, 1st April 2021 - 31st March 2022, and the POI.
G. Procedure
13. The sunset review investigation will cover all aspects of the final findings published vide Notification No .
6/7/2019 -DGTR dated 15.05.2020 , recommending the imposition of anti -dumping dut y on the imports of
subject goods originating in or exported from the subject countries.
14. The provisions of Rules 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19 , and 20 of the Rules shall be mutatis mutandis
applicable in this review.
H. Likelihood of Continuation or Re currence of Dumping
Normal Value for China PR
15. The consistent practice of the Authority has been to treat China PR as a non -market economy, unless the
producers from China PR demonstrate that market economy conditions prevail in the industry with regard
to the production and sales of the subject goods in accordance with Para 7 of Annexure -I to the Anti -
Dumping Rules, 1995 .
16. Therefore, for the p urpose of initiation of the present investigation, the normal value has been constructed
based on the estimates of th e cost of production of the applicant’s duly adjusted with selling, general and
administrative expenses, along with a reasonable profit mar gin.
Normal Value for Japan, Korea, Vietnam , and Taiwan
17. The applicant proposed to compute the normal value for the s ubject countries based on the cost of production
of the applicant, duly adjusted for the materials, utilities, and labor to reflect the costs in the subject countries.
18. The Authority, for the pur pose of initiation, has prima facie determined the normal val ues for Japan, Korea,
Vietnam and Taiwan on the basis of cost of production of the applicant duly adjusted for selling, general and
administrative expenses and reasonable profits.
Export Price
19. The Authority has considered the CIF price of the subject goods for the determination of Net Export Price
(NEP). The Authority has thereafter made necessary adjustments to these prices to arrive at the ex -factory
price.
Dumping Margin
20. The normal value an d the export price have been compared at the ex -factory level, w hich prima facie
establishes that the dumping margin is above the de minimis level and is significant with respect to the
product under consideration from the subject countr ies. Thus, there is sufficient prima facie evidence that the
product under consider ation from the subject countr ies is being dumped in the domestic market of India by
the exporters from the subject countr ies.
I. Likelihood vis-a-vis Injury and Causal Link
21. The quantity of imports of the subject goods from the subject countr ies has remaine d high despite the
existence of anti -dumping duties on the imports of the subject goods from the subject countr ies. In view of
the same, the Authorit y has examined the prima facie likelihood of dumping or recurrence of injury in the
event of cessation of t he existing anti -dumping duty. The Authority has also prima facie examined the
continuation of existing duties based on the grounds alleged in the application.
22. Furthermore, the applicant has claimed the likelihood of injury based on factors such as the positive dumping
and injury margins, the history of dumping, capacit ies available in the subject countr ies and capacity
expansion , the lack of domestic demand in the subject count ries, and the likely impact of recurrence of
dumping on the domestic industry in the event of cessation of duties. There is prima facie evidence regarding
the likelihood of dumping and injury to the domestic industry in the event of cessation of anti -dumping du ty.
J. Initiation of Sunset Review Investigation
23. On the basis of the duly substantiated application by the domestic industry, and having satisfied itself , on the
basis of prima facie evidence submitted by the applicant substantiating the likelihood of dumping and
consequent injury to the domestic industry, and in accordance with Ru le 23(1B) of the Rules, the Authority
hereby initiates th e present investigation to review the need for continued imposition of the duties in force in
respect of the subject goods, originating in or exported from the subject countr ies, and to examine wheth er
the expiry of existing anti -dumping duty is likely to lead contin uation or recurrence of dumping and
consequent injury to the domestic industry.
K. Submission of Information
24. All communication should be sent to the Designated Authority via email at email ad dresses dd11 -
[email protected] and [email protected] with a copy to adg14 [email protected] and adv13 -dgtr@g ov.in. It must be
ensured that the narrative part of the submission is in searchable PDF/MS -Word format and data files are in
MS-Excel format.
25. The known producers/exporters in the subject countr ies, the Government of the subject countries through its
Emba ssy in India, and the importers and users in India who are known to be associated with the subject goods
are being informed separately to enable them to file all the relevant information within the time limits
mentioned in this initiation notification. All such information must be filed in the form and manner as
prescribed by this initiation notification, the Rules , and the applicable trade notices issued by the Authority.
26. Any other interested party may also make a submission relevant to the present invest igation in the form and
manner as prescribed by this initia tion notification, the Rules , and the applicable trade notices issued by the
Authority within the time limits mentioned in this initiation notification.
27. Any party making any confidential submissio n before the Authority is required to make a non -confidenti al
version of the same available to the other interested parties.
28. Interested parties are further directed to regularly visit the official website of the Directorate General of Trade
Remedies ( https://www.dgtr.gov.in /) to stay updated and apprised with the information as well as further
processes related to the investigation.
L. Time Limit
29. Any information relating to the present investigation should be sent to th e Designated Authority via email at
email address dd11 [email protected] and dd16 [email protected] with a copy to adg14 [email protected] and adv13 -
[email protected] within 30 days from the date on which the non -confidential version of the application filed by
the domestic industry would be circulated by the Designated Authority or transmitted to the appropriate
diplomat ic representative of the exporting countr ies as per Rule 6(4) of the Rules. If no information is
received within the stipulated time limit or the information received is incomplete, the Authority may record
its findings based on the facts available on reco rd and in accordance with the Rules.
30. All the interested parties are hereby advised to intimate their interest (including the nature of interest) in the
instant matter and file their questionnaire responses within the above time limit as stipulated in this
notification.
31. Where an interested party seeks additional time for filing of submissions, it must demonstrate sufficient cause
for such extension in terms of Rule 6(4) of the AD Rules, 1995 and such request must come within the time
stipulated in this notification.
M. Submission of Information on Confidential Basis
32. Where any party to the present investigation makes confidential submissions or provides information on a
confidential basis before the Authority, such party is required to simultaneously submit a non-confiden tial
version of such information in terms of Rule 7(2) of the Rules and in accordance with the relevant trade
notices issued by the Authority in this regard.
33. Such submissions must be clearly marked as “confidential” or “non -confidential” at th e top of each page.
Any submission that has been made to the Authority without such markings shall be treated as “non -
confidential” information by the Authority, and the Authority shall be at liberty to allow other interested
parties to inspect such submis sions.
34. The co nfidential version shall contain all information which is, by nature, confidential, and/or other
information, which the supplier of such information claims as confidential. For the information which is
claimed to be confidential by nature, or the informati on on which confidentiality is claimed because of other
reasons, the supplier of the information is required to provide a good cause statement along with the supplied
information as to why such information cannot be disclosed.
35. The non -confiden tial version of the information filed by the interested parties should be a replica of the
confidential version with the confidential information preferably indexed or blanked out (where indexation is
not possible) and such information must be appropriatel y and adequat ely summarized depending upon the
information on which confidentiality is claimed.
36. The non -confidential summary must be in sufficient detail to permit a reasonable understanding of the
substance of the information furnished on a confidential b asis. However, in exceptional circumstances, the
party submitting the confidential information may indicate that such information is not susceptib le to
summary, and a statement of reasons containing a sufficient and adequate explanation in terms of Rule 7 of
the Rules, 1995 , and appropriate trade notices issued by the Authority, as to why such summarization is not
possible, must be provided to the s atisfaction of the Authority.
37. The interested parties can offer their comments on the issues of confidentiality claimed by the domestic
industry within 7 days from the date of circulation of the non-confidential version of the application as
indicated in paragraph 29 of this initiation notification .
38. Any submission made without a meaningful non-confidential version thereof or a sufficient and adequate
cause statement in terms of Rule 7 of the Rules , and appropriate trade notices issued by the Authority, on the
confidentiality claim shall not be taken on record b y the Authority.
39. The Authority may accept or reject the request for confidentiality on examination of the nature of the
information submitted. If the Authority is satisfied that the req uest for confidentiality is not warranted or if
the supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information pu blic or authorizes its disclosure
in generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information.
40. The Authority on being satisf ied and accepting the need for confidentiality of the information provided, shall
not disclose it to any party without specifi c authorisation of the party providing such information.
41. A list of registered interested parties will be uploaded on the DGTR ’s website along with the request therein
to all of them to email the non-confidential version of their submissions and other info rmation to all other
interested parties.
N. Non-Cooperation
42. In case any interested party refuses access to and otherwise does not provide necessary information within a
reasonable period or within the time stipulated by the Authority in this initiation notif ication or subsequently
time period provided through separate communication , or significantly impedes the investigation, the
Authority may declare such interested party as non-cooperative and record its findings based on the facts
available and make such recommendations to the Centra l Government as it deem s fit.
Anant Swarup Designated Authority
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