India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recommended anti-dumping duties on polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, film imported from Bangladesh, potentially adding a new barrier for exporters serving the Indian market.

The proposed measure would apply for five years if India’s finance ministry issues the required notification. PET film is used widely in flexible packaging for food, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, as well as in electrical insulation and other industrial applications.

According to Indian trade-remedy findings, the recommended rate for most Bangladeshi exporters is up to $218 per tonne, while a lower rate has been proposed for one cooperating Bangladeshi producer. The authority said dumped imports had undercut domestic prices and caused material injury to Indian manufacturers.

For Bangladesh, the development matters because India is a major nearby market where freight and delivery times give exporters a natural advantage. Any additional duty would increase landed costs and could weaken that edge, particularly for firms competing on thin margins.

The recommendation follows other recent Indian trade-remedy measures affecting Bangladeshi products, including jute items. The final market impact will depend on whether the Indian finance ministry accepts and implements the recommendation.

Sources: The Business Standard, The Daily Star and India’s DGTR reporting, October 2026. Photo: Unsplash/Lalit Kumar.