Page 4 - Annual Report 2019

DG’s REPORT

It gives me a great pleasure to share with you the Annual Report of the DGTR for 2018–19. This
Report documents the important developments / achievements during the Financial Year. I
would like to briefly highlight some of the significant developments.

2. The year 2018-19 has been a landmark year, as the Government created an integrated
single umbrella National Authority called the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) for
administering all trade remedial measures viz. anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties and
safeguard measures and trade defence activities. This was achieved by merging the functions of
Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) and the Safeguards Quantitative Restriction (QR)
functions discharged by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) with the Directorate
General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD). In addition, the newly created entity was
also assigned the task of providing trade defence support to domestic industry and exporters as
increasing instances of trade remedy investigations instituted against them by other countries
came to light.

3. DGTR has a sanctioned strength of 112 posts drawn from Indian Administrative Service,
Indian Trade Service, Indian Cost Accounts Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Economic
Service, Indian Statistical Service and other Central Government Cadres. This has resulted in
savings of 49 posts to the Government on account of merging DGAD and DGS. This was in
consonance with the goal of ‘Minimum Government Maximum Governance’ of Government of
India. While the actual strength of DGTR remains much less than the number of sanctioned
posts, but this has never stopped the Directorate from completing a very large number of
investigations within the stipulated time.

4. During the year, DGTR undertook a major exercise towards promoting transparency,
uniformity and accountability by streamlining its procedures and processes. Manual of Operating
Practices for Trade Remedy Investigations and Handbook of Operating Procedures of Trade
Defence Wing were published and released during the year and also placed on the DGTR website.
A meeting was also held with all independent consultants practising in the area of trade remedy
and trade defence. This was aimed at deliberating on challenges in addressing issues of fair,
transparent and expeditious trade remedy investigations. A set of DGTR publications were also
handed over to these experts.

5. The Outreach Programmes, which are undertaken jointly with DGFT, Customs and
Revenue Officials, is yet another step towards enhancing awareness amongst the domestic
industry, especially MSMEs or those located in remote locations, about trade remedial measures
and the support provided by Government in trade defence cases. Brochures and FAQs published
by DGTR during the year are distributed during these workshops/meetings. A Help Desk has also
been set up in DGTR Office to provide requisite support and guidance.

6. During 2018-19 DGTR has streamlined the investigation process. The time taken for pre-
initiation activities has been reduced to about one month in Anti-Dumping & Review cases. The
practice of pre-initiation hearing by Designated Authority in all review cases has been introduced
in DGTR. Speaking Orders are also now being issued where cases are not initiated for any valid
reason. The concept of summary proceedings has been introduced in cases of name change only.
The average time taken to complete investigations has been reduced to 281 days during 2018-
19 as against 478 days during 2014-15, 434 days during 2015-16 and 407 days during 2017-18.