Indian black monumental granite exports to Canada would continue to attract an anti-dumping levy ranging from 18 to 50 per cent. The CITT had taken up review of the anti-dumping proceedings on granites as the duty slapped in 1994 was scheduled to lapse this month.

The trade tribunal found that "the subsidising of black granite memorials of all sizes and shapes and black granite slabs in thickness equal to or greater than three inches originating in or exported from India have caused, or causing and are likely to cause material injury to producers inCanada of like goods".

Canada had imposed anti-dumping duties on granite from India in 1994 following a complaint from granite monument makers in Beebee town bordering the United States. For the first time, a commerce ministry official gave evidence before CITT, to explain the nuances of various export schemes chairman of development panel for the Indian granite industry R Veeramani said in Chennai.

"The additional secretary in commerce ministry Nripendra Misra explained that export promotion schemes were not out to dole incentives. He also explained that all the policies of the government were consistent with the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," he said.

Veeramani said Indian government had told CITT that exporters were only being reimbursed for lack of various facilities, including infrastructure. "We also pointed out that Canada was importing black granites at much cheaper rates from China," he said adding some of the Canadian importers too gave evidence in favour of India, saying they were satisfiedwith the quality of Indian imports.

"They also said that Indian black granite price is higher in view of better workmanship and there was no justification in the review process," he said. India had presented its case strongly despite a general lack of interest from most of the exporters as it was of the view that if Canada was to reimpose the anti-dumping duty then other countries, like European Union, could follow suit.

The granite industry was not interested in doing business with Canada as they were sore on being subjected to all kind of indignities and doubting of their bonafides by that country, Veeramani said. The launching of anti-dumping procedures against monumental black granite imports from India by Canada was seen as a strange move since the north American country has no source of black granite.

Factories in Canada, especially in Beebee, cut grey and white stones. There is also no nearby source of black granite for these units and imports from other sources are also not favoured as the deadweight of such cargo is high. Moreover, exporters had to fill up cumbersome papers to prove that they were not dumping these monumental granites, mostly used for constructing memorials for the dead.

One of the reasons for exporters not interested in doing the monumental black granite business with Canada is that it hardly makes up 1-2 per cent of the total Rs 380 crore dimensional and processed granite exports from the country.

Shipments of black granites to Canada have slid to eight containers in 1998 from 50 in 1994. Canada, in particular, objects to duty-free imports for export purpose and reduction in packaging credit for exports, saying these measures amount to doling out subsidies.