India’s trade ministry has opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of the TB drug ethambutol hydrochloride from China and Thailand, following a petition by domestic manufacturers alleging unfairly low pricing.
Glimpse:
Domestic drugmaker Lupin Ltd filed a complaint claiming imports of ethambutol hydrochloride from China and Thailand were being dumped and harming local industry. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has released a list of interested parties and is formalising the investigation.
On 27 October 2025, India’s DGTR moved forward with an anti-dumping probe into the import of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) ethambutol hydrochloride, used in anti-tuberculosis medicines. The inquiry was triggered by a petition from Lupin Ltd, which alleged that imports from China and Thailand were priced below “normal value”, undercutting local producers.
The investigation will assess whether dumping is causing injury to the domestic industry, and whether provisional duties or safeguards may be necessary. The move reflects rising concerns in India’s pharmaceutical sector about dependency on foreign APIs and the impact of global trade practices on local manufacturing competitiveness.
Industry observers say this action could lead to price increases of key TB medications, global supply-chain ramifications, and increased regulatory scrutiny on imports. Analysts suggest the domestic pharma sector may see a shift towards higher self-reliance in API sourcing and renewed focus on Make-in-India for essential medicines.
“When APIs arrive at rock-bottom prices, the question isn’t just cost it’s survival of our industry and safeguarding domestic supply.”
By
HB Team
