Workshop Empowers MSMEs with Trade Remedy Tools to Combat Unfair Trade Practices

A workshop on "Trade Remedies and MSMEs: Building Capacity for Fair Trade" was organized by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on July 15, 2025, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The workshop's primary objective was to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by sensitizing them to available trade remedy mechanisms and enhancing their active participation in these processes.

The central theme of the workshop was to equip the MSME sector with knowledge on available trade remedy tools, facilitate discussions on existing challenges faced by them, and explore concrete ways forward to strengthen their defense against unfair trade practices. It brought together key policymakers, leading experts in trade remedies, and numerous MSME industry representatives from various sectors for focused discussions.

During the workshop, Shri Siddharth Mahajan, Joint Secretary & Director General, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce, underscored the crucial need for smaller firms to coalesce and form associations to effectively represent their collective interests in trade remedy proceedings.

The workshop included two comprehensive technical sessions specifically designed to enhance industry understanding of trade remedy frameworks and the unique challenges encountered by MSMEs. These sessions delved into the legal and institutional aspects of trade remedies, along with data-related complexities that often hinder MSME participation in crucial investigations. The event also featured eminent experts including Shri Anant Swarup, Former Additional Secretary and Director General, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), and Mr. Andrea Mastromatteo, Director, Rules Division, World Trade Organization (WTO).

Shri Sumanta Chaudhuri, Principal Advisor, International Trade Policy Division, CII, highlighted the increasing complexity of the international trade environment and the critical role of institutional support in addressing trade distortions faced by domestic industry.

Prof. James J Nedumpara, Head of Centre for Trade and Investment Law, informed MSMEs about various support initiatives, including the establishment of the Trade Remedies Advisory Cell (TRAC) at CTIL, designed to provide comprehensive assistance to MSMEs in pursuing trade remedy investigations

The workshop concluded with an active engagement session where MSMEs directly interacted with regulatory authorities to discuss practical challenges faced by domestic producers. The industry highlighted specific challenges related to anti-dumping measures, particularly in sectors experiencing intense import competition.

The discussions collectively reaffirmed the critical need for coordinated institutional support and robust legal preparedness to enable MSMEs to effectively defend their interests against unfair trade practices. CTIL, DGTR, and CII reiterated their joint commitment to fostering an enabling environment that empowers MSMEs to participate effectively in India’s trade remedy regime.

Trade remedies: strengthening MSME participation through institutional support and advisory mechanisms to combat unfair trade. The workshop focused on empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to participate in trade remedy processes by sensitising them to anti dumping and related mechanisms, addressing legal and data challenges that hinder engagement, encouraging firms to form associations to consolidate representation in proceedings, and providing institutional assistance via a Trade Remedies Advisory Cell to improve legal preparedness and regulatory engagement.