Copper Industry Flags Cheap Imports, Seeks 3% Safeguard Duty

• Domestic copper industry seeks 3% safeguard duty and quantitative restrictions on imports due to cheap inbound shipments.
• The Indian Primary Copper Producers Association (IPCPA) states zero-duty imports under FTAs are severely damaging Indian manufacturing.
• Concerns include the India-UAE CEPA's inflated Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) and the India-ASEAN CEPA's cumulative value-addition rule, leading to import surges.
• Zero-duty imports from UAE, ASEAN, and Japan are displacing domestic production, making smelting and refining operations unviable.
• Over Rs 20,000 crore invested in domestic copper self-sufficiency is at risk from the surge in cheap imports.

Why It Matters: Cheap copper imports undermine India's industry, risking jobs and self-reliance.