DGTR Recommends Two-Year Soda Ash Import Curbs

On 6 November 2026, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended two years of safeguard measures through quantitative restrictions on soda ash imports into India. The recommendation followed a probe which found imports rose by 89% in 2023–24 and remained at that level, threatening serious injury to domestic industry.

Proposed quotas and applicants

The Alkali Manufacturers Association of India filed the application on behalf of DCW Ltd, GHCL Ltd, Nirma Ltd, RSPL Ltd and Tata Chemicals. The first-year quota is 754,992 metric tonnes (MT), followed by 792,740 MT in the second year, for a two-year total of 1,547,732 MT.

Two-year country allocations are 326,745 MT for the USA, 263,829 MT for Turkey, 227,443 MT for Iran/UAE, 144,092 MT for Russia, 240,217 MT for the European Union, 249,786 MT for Kenya and 95,298 MT for China PR. Other countries are allocated 322 MT. Each country’s annual quota is to be divided into four quarterly tranches; imports must remain within the applicable quarterly limit. The measures are recommendations, not confirmation that the restrictions have been imposed.

Important Facts for Exams

• Indian safeguard authority: India's DGTR is an investigating authority under the Department of Commerce; safeguard duties are formally imposed by the Central Government through Department of Revenue notifications.
• Safeguard trade-remedy distinction: Unlike anti-dumping action, a WTO safeguard may address fairly traded imports; it requires increased imports causing or threatening serious injury and is temporary.
• Soda ash tariff classification: In the Harmonized System, soda ash (disodium carbonate) falls under subheading 2836.20; sodium bicarbonate is separately classified under 2836.30.
• Synthetic soda ash process: The Solvay process makes synthetic soda ash from brine and limestone; ammonia is recovered for reuse and calcium chloride is a by-product.