India has launched an investigation into subsidized production and export of welded stainless steel pipes and tubes from China and Vietnam, an official notification said.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, which falls under the trade ministry, said there was "prima facie" evidence of subsidies that were hurting the domestic industry.

"The authority finds that there is prima facie evidence of existence of countervailable subsidies on production and export of the subject goods in People's Republic of China and Vietnam, and such subsidized imports are causing material injury to the domestic industry through their volume and price effects," the notification said.

(Reporting by Neha Dasgupta, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)