India's Ministry of Steel has requested the Finance Ministry to double the import duty on steel from the current 7.5% to 15%. This move aims to combat a significant surge in steel imports from China, which now account for 33% of total imports. The ministry highlighted concerns over Chinese investments targeting the Indian market and the use of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement to facilitate lower-priced imports. Despite rising domestic steel inventories, imports continue to displace local production, prompting calls for urgent intervention to protect the domestic industry.