On August 20, 2009 the Government of India initiated a safeguard investigation on imports of Caustic Soda and imposed on December 4, 2009 provisional safeguards. The rate of duty is 15 per cent ad valorem for a period of three months. The products subject to duties are classified under the following HS code subheadings: HS 2815.11; 2815.12.
In April, it was decided to change the provisional safeguard duty to definitive for a period of three months. As such the definitive safeguard duty expired on 4 March 2010.