The Indian Primary Copper Producers Association (IPCPA) has urged the government to impose a 3% safeguard duty on copper imports to counter a surge in zero-duty shipments from Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners. The industry body claims that these “cheap imports” are severely damaging domestic smelting and downstream manufacturing, despite over ₹20,000 crore in recent investments aimed at achieving self-sufficiency. They are also seeking quantitative restrictions on inbound shipments to protect local refineries.
A major point of concern for the association is the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), under which duties on copper wire rods have dropped to just 1% and are slated for full elimination by FY27. The IPCPA highlights that the situation is worsened by an “inflated” Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ), which has led to a 340% surge in imports from the UAE between FY22 and FY26. They have demanded that this quota be corrected and capped at its original intended level.
Smelters also pointed to Indonesia’s expanding capacity and Chinese investments in ASEAN copper operations as major threats. They argue that the global collapse in Treatment and Refining Charges (TC/RC) has made domestic operations increasingly unviable. By calling for copper wires, tubes, and foils to be added to the exclusion list in upcoming FTA reviews, the industry hopes to reclaim market share from international competitors.