Mumbai, June 26 -- India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of hot-rolled flat steel products from China, Japan and Russia after top domestic steelmakers alleged that cheap imports from these countries have caused material injury to the local industry and threaten to inflict further damage.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the commerce ministry, on Thursday issued an initiation notification following an application filed by JSW Steel Ltd, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Ltd and Jindal Steel Odisha Ltd. The application has also received support from Tata Steel Ltd and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).

The domestic industry has sought "retrospective imposition of anti-dumping duties", arguing that...