An Overview of Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)

Initially established in 1998 as the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties, the organization was later renamed in 2018 as the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). DGTR operates under the Department of Commerce within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS), and DGFT dealing with quantitative restriction (QR) safeguards were amalgamated into DGTR. This made DGTR an integrated single umbrella National Authority.

1. DGTR is the apex national authority in charge of administering all the trade remedial measures including Anti-Dumping Duties, Countervailing Duties and Other Safeguard Measures.
2. DGTR was established with the objective of creating an integrated single-window agency that would provide a comprehensive and swift trade defense mechanism in the country.
3. The Department of Revenue takes into account the recommendations of DGTR for imposing Anti-Dumping, Countervailing, and Safeguard Duties.
4. The merger of DGAD and DGS resulted in savings of about 49 government posts, aligning with the Government’s vision of “Minimum government and maximum governance”.
5. This move also significantly reduced the time taken to provide relief to the domestic industry.
6. DGTR comprises officers from various ministries with expertise in fields such as Law, Costing, Economics, Finance, Customs, Revenue, and International Trade, thus functioning as a multi-service organization.
7. DGTR provides trade defense support to domestic industries and exporters in dealing with trade remedy investigations initiated by other countries against them.

Previously, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) dealt with anti-dumping and CVD cases, the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) dealt with safeguard measures and DGFT dealt with quantitative restriction (QR) safeguards. However, DGTR now combines DGAD, DGS, and Safeguards (QR) functions of DGFT into one single national entity.

For more information, you can also read about Dumping & Countervailing Duties (CVDs)

Key Functions of DGTR

Prior to the transformation of DGAD into DGTR, the following functions were performed:

These four organizations were combined to form the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), creating a single national entity that handles all the functions.

Today, DGTR is a professionally integrated organization with a diverse range of skill sets, thanks to officers from different services and specializations. The functions of DGTR are as follows:

1. Handling Anti-Dumping, CVD, and Safeguard measures.
2. Offering trade defense support to the Indian domestic industry and exporters against increasing instances of trade remedy investigations instituted by foreign countries.
3. Ensuring a level playing field for the country’s domestic industries against the adverse effects of Unfair Trade Practices. This is achieved by:
   1. Utilizing the Trade Remedial methods provided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) framework.
   2. Implementing the Customs Tariff Act & Rules and other Laws and International agreements related to the matter.
   3. Ensuring transparency and timeliness in all proceedings.

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