DSK Legal

International Trade Law/WTO

Partner

Mr. Ashish Chandra primarily practices in the arena of Customs/International Trade (WTO). He has extensive experience in WTO Dispute Settlement proceedings wherein he represented the Government of India as the lead counsel before a WTO Panel in its first Compliance proceedings under Article 21.5 of the DSU as well as India’s first and only Arbitration proceedings under Article 22.6 of the DSU. He was also India’s lead counsel in the appeal before the WTO Appellate Body in WT/DS430.

Additionally, Mr. Chandra has also extensively advised various government departments in India as well as foreign governments and private organizations on issues concerning WTO covered agreements, Foreign trade Policy, Rules of origin, Free Trade Agreements, custom related issues, issues concerning FSSAI and BIS etc.

Ashish also regularly represents clients in trade remedial investigations such as antidumping duty; countervailing duty and safeguard duty investigations before the DGTR (formerly DGAD) as well as before the appellate forums such as the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India; High Courts and the Hon’ble CESTAT. He has also represented Indian exporters in trade remedial investigations initiated by other jurisdictions including the US ITC and the European Commission and has also advised the Government of India on countervailing duty investigations initiated by other countries against India.

Most recently, Mr. Chandra represented three Indian manufacturers of PU Leather as applicants before the DGTR for imposition of anti-dumping duty on import of PU Leather from China PR and was successful in getting a positive recommendation from DGTR which was subsequently also accepted by the Department of Revenue, Government of India. Notably, the issuance of custom notification by Department of Revenue to impose anti-dumping duty on import of PU Leather is one of few instances in 2022 wherein it has accepted the recommendation of the DGTR, as recommendations of DGTR in most of the other cases have been rejected.

Ashish has taught courses on Indian trade laws at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Noida. He is also a frequent writer and has co-authored a chapter “India-Agricultural Products: Defending India’s First SPS Dispute” in the book “WTO Dispute Settlement at Twenty” published by Springer. He has also co-authored articles on ‘E-commerce for India in a Developing World: An Int’l Trade Law Perspective’ which was published in Journal of World Trade and ‘The Public Interest Gamble in an Anti-Dumping Inquiry-testing Indian waters” which was published by the GNLU Law Review. Most recently, he has co-authored a chapter “Understanding the SPS Regulatory Framework in the Indian context” in the book "Handbook on Product Standards and International Trade" which has been published by Wolters Kluwer.

He is regularly invited to speak on trade law issues and has also taken sessions on SPS Agreement for delegates from developing and least developing countries in a Specialized training programme on Standards, Regulations and WTO SPS and TBT Measures under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. He also sits on panels of moot court competitions on International trade.

Awards and Recognition

The Chambers-Asia Pacific and Chambers Global rankings has recognized him as ‘Up and Coming Lawyer’ for International Trade /WTO since 2018 till date and notes that clients find Mr. Chandra "impressive, experienced and efficient," and identify him as a "strong advocate”. The rankings also notes that the clients consider him as "one of the best trade lawyers in India”.

Mr. Chandra has also been recognized as ‘Next Generation Partner’ by Legal 500 rankings in the arena of WTO/International Trade since 2018 till date.

English and Hindi

Delhi High Court Bar Association

Gujrat National Law University