New Delhi, April 23 -- The steel industry has committed to supplying metal to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at rates equivalent to export prices, a senior government official confirmed on Tuesday.

This announcement addresses concerns that the recently imposed safeguard duty on certain imported steel products would negatively impact smaller enterprises.

On Monday, the government introduced a 12 percent provisional safeguard duty, effective for 200 days, on five categories of steel products including hot rolled coils, sheets, and plates.

This measure, implemented following recommendations from the commerce ministry's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), aims to protect domestic manufacturers from a surge in imports...