India, March 19 -- The Indian government is planning to impose a 12% tariff on most types of steel imports to protect domestic industries. The world's second-largest steel producer, is planning to impose the tariff for a period of 200 days.

According to a preliminary decision published by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday as a gazette notification, comments have been invited to help the ministry in making a final recommendation after a later hearing.

"There exist critical circumstances, where any delay in application for provisional safeguard measures would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair," the government said in its recommendation.

The imposition of the import duty will being relief to Indian st...