The Mexican ministry of economy is planning to investigate on all the suppliers of metoprolol tartrate supplied from India, as the Mexican government feels these imports from India are subsidized and affecting their domestic industry.

According to Dr P V Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil, the Indian embassy in Mexico has informed the council that the Mexican ministry of economy is set to investigate on all the suppliers of metoprolol tartrate from India as part of its anti dumping investigation.

Metoprolol tartrate is the medicinal drug which is usually available in the form of 50 or 100 mg tablets. This drug is effectively used in decreasing the blood pressure levels and heart rate. Apart from this, these tablets are very much useful in the treatment of angina symptoms.

“Such investigations are initiated by the foreign governments as they feel that imports from India are highly subsidized and it is affecting their domestic industry,” stated Dr Appaji.

According to industry experts, such a move by Mexican government will definitely have an impact on the Indian exports to Mexico as it will increase regulatory apprehensions among the suppliers. But others feel that putting all details regarding the exports and presenting a foolproof case with the Mexican authorities will definitely help India to defend the anti dumping charges if any.

Dr Appaji pointed out that usually the anti dumping investigations are initiated by the foreign governments if imports from the country/ countries concerned are subsidized and such subsidies are affecting their domestic industry.

Upon investigation if they find any of the above assumptions valid then the foreign government may impose measures (usually a countervailing duty) and conditions on imports.

There are almost more than 100 companies exporting metoprolol tartrate or the raw material to produce the product to different countries from India. Most of these companies are spread across different parts of India. Many of them are located in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

In view of the above development, the Indian companies supplying these products have been advised to provide all the information pertaining to value and quantity of the product exported to Mexico during the past three years to the Pharmexcil, which will be presented to the Indian embassy in Mexico to put an appropriate case with the Mexican authorities.