Economic Laws Practice (ELP) has secured a favourable outcome in the ELP LLDPE anti-dumping DGTR matter, successfully representing four major global petrochemical players before India’s trade remedies authority. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) accepted the firm’s submissions on multiple contested aspects of the investigation, concluding proceedings that had significant implications for LLDPE imports across six jurisdictions.
Introduction
Economic Laws Practice (ELP) represented Qatar Energy, Equate, OQ, and TotalEnergies in a recently concluded anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) originating in or exported from the State of Kuwait, Malaysia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The investigation, registered by DGTR under File No. 6/26/2025-DGTR, covered LLDPE imports from six countries: the State of Kuwait, Malaysia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The official investigation notice was issued on 30 June 2025.
The action followed a petition filed by the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturers’ Association (CPMA) on behalf of major domestic producers. LLDPE is a vital component used in the plastic processing sector, serving as a raw material for manufacturing products including packaging films, industrial profiles, wires, and cables.
Legal Teams Involved
Economic Laws Practice (ELP) represented Qatar Energy, Equate, OQ, and TotalEnergies.
The ELP team was led by Sanjay Notani (Partner) and was supported by Ambarish Sathianathan (Partner), along with Naghm Ghei (Associate Partner), Harika Bakaraju (Associate Partner), Shrinkhla Gupta (Associate Partner), Prashant Sharma (Counsel), and Shyam Matanhelia (Senior Associate), and other team members.
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Significance and Impact
The firm defended various aspects of dumping, injury, standing, and de minimis, which were considered and accepted by the regulatory authority — the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
The outcome is particularly notable given how the final findings broke along country lines. The DGTR terminated the investigation against Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar as imports from these countries collectively accounted for less than 7% of India’s total LLDPE imports — a result directly consistent with the de minimis arguments advanced by ELP on behalf of its clients. India plans to impose anti-dumping duties of $41/tonne to $368/tonne on LLDPE imports from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Malaysia.
The case demonstrates the strategic value of robust participation by exporters in DGTR proceedings. The DGTR found anti-dumping measures necessary to safeguard the domestic industry, adding that the imposition of such measures would remove unfair advantages gained by dumping practices — underscoring the high stakes for exporting nations that do not mount an effective defence. ELP’s ability to secure a termination of proceedings for its GCC-based clients, while duties were recommended against other subject countries, reflects the importance of well-constructed submissions on standing and de minimis thresholds in multi-country investigations.
The conclusion of the LLDPE anti-dumping investigation before the DGTR marks a significant win for Economic Laws Practice and its clients — Qatar Energy, Equate, OQ, and TotalEnergies. The DGTR’s acceptance of ELP’s submissions on dumping, injury, standing, and de minimis resulted in the termination of the investigation against Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. The matter reinforces ELP’s standing as a leading practice in Indian trade remedies law.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is based on the details provided and publicly available sources.
