The Committee on Anti-dumping Practices, on 23 October 2013, reviewed 30 semi-annual reports covering the first half of this year, and considered ad hoc notifications of preliminary and final anti-dumping actions submitted by 19 members.

During the review of the semi-annual reports, the following concerns were raised:

• Chile said it is following closely Argentina’s anti-dumping investigations on steel drums, on adhesive paper and on copper fungicide. Regarding the first two products, Chile requested Argentina to extend the deadlines to provide adequate opportunities to Chilean exporters to present their views. On fungicide, Chile complained that the preliminary duty of 79 per cent is too high, and that Argentina’s procedures might not comply with the Anti-Dumping Agreement. Argentina said it would transmit Chile’s concerns to capital.

• Korea expressed concern that Australia, in its anti-dumping investigation on hot rolled coil steel, had applied the lesser-duty rule to one country but not to the other countries involved, including Korea. Australia said it has an appeals process that Korea can follow.

• Japan expressed concern over Brazil’s investigation on radial tyres to be used on buses or lorries. The Russian Federation said Brazil should terminate its investigation on Russian tyres because of its negligible exports (below 3 per cent). Chile expressed concern over Brazil’s sunset review on duplex and triplex cards from Chile. Korea said it is concerned about three investigations by Brazil: on cold rolled stainless steel sheets, on silicon steel, and on heavy plates. Chinese Taipei said it is concerned about the investigation on cold rolled stainless steel. Brazil said it is conducting these investigations in accordance with the Agreement, adding that members’ concerns would be duly taken into account in the investigations.

• On China, Japan expressed concern over provisional measures on pyridine, and on certain alloy-steel seamless tubes and pipes for high temperature and pressure service. China said on the first case that the investigation is still on-going, and on the second, no Japanese company has responded to the case.

• Turkey expressed concern about the Dominican Republic’s anti-dumping measure on steel rods and bars. It said there was no injury caused by imports to the domestic industry, and that it was a clear violation of the Agreement. The Dominican Republic’s representative said he will convey the concern to capital.

• Russia expressed concerns regarding the European Union’s investigation on ammonium nitrate, in particular about the lack of access given to Russian companies in the review. The EU said its investigation is fully in accordance with the Agreement.

• The United States requested India to provide an update on its investigation regarding solar products from the US. Chinese Taipei expressed concern over India’s sunset review on PVC. India invited the US to bilateral discussions on solar products, and said it would transmit Chinese Taipei’s concerns to capital.

• On Israel, Turkey expressed concern that the investigation on machine-made rugs is not based on compelling evidence of dumping. Israel said it would transmit the concern to capital.

• On Mexico, Korea expressed concern about several extensions of the anti-dumping duty on short-fibre polyester, originally imposed in 1993. Mexico said the sunset investigation is consistent with the Agreement.

• Turkey said there is no basis for the current investigation by Morocco on hot-rolled steel sheets from Turkey. Morocco said it had taken note of Turkey’s concern.

• On New Zealand, South Africa said that an anti-dumping measure had been imposed on canned peaches from South Africa for the past 17 years, and urged its termination. New Zealand invited South Africa to bilateral discussions.

• Turkey expressed concern over an anti-dumping investigation by the Philippines on wheat flour. The Philippine representative said she will transmit the concern to capital.

• On South Africa, the US expressed concern that an anti-dumping measure is being imposed on chicken imports from the US despite a High Court ruling against it. South Africa said another more recent ruling has now validated the original anti-dumping decision, but the matter is under appeal.

• On Chinese Taipei, Korea expressed concern about a provisional anti-dumping measure on cold rolled flat stainless steel products from Korea. Chinese Taipei’s representative said he will transmit this concern to his authorities.

• Korea expressed regret over the extension by Thailand of its anti-dumping duty on hot-rolled steel products. Thailand’s representative said he would transmit the concern to capital.

• Kuwait urged Turkey to conduct a review on its anti-dumping measure on mono ethylene glycol (MEG). Turkey said an interim review of this measure would be undertaken.

• Japan reiterated its concerns about long-standing anti-dumping duties imposed by the United States on Japanese products, several stretching back 30 years. The US said its expiry proceedings conform with the Agreement, adding that 80 per cent of cases involving Japanese companies have been terminated.

Several concerns were raised under “Other Business”.

Indonesia expressed concerns about the European Union’s anti-dumping investigations on biodiesel and on fatty alcohols. Argentina said it shares Indonesia’s concern on biodiesel. The EU said that it had explained in detail its basis for the biodiesel measure in a communication to the parties concerned, and on fatty alcohols, it is discussing the matter with Indonesia with the aim of finding a satisfactory solution.

Indonesia also expressed concern over the anti-dumping investigation by Pakistan on paper products from Indonesia. Pakistan said that the investigation, which also concerned China, Thailand and Japan, is still subject to on-going court proceedings.

China expressed its concern over Peru’s anti-dumping investigation on garments (clothing and apparel) covering 300 products in 276 tariff sub-headings. It said the scope of this investigation is unprecedented as it is aimed at protecting an entire industrial sector, and asked Peru how it could justify it under the Agreement. Peru said that its investigation is being conducted in accordance with the WTO and respected due process. It said it would inform the Committee of any decisions reached in the investigation.

China also expressed concern about the US calculation of dumping margins in cases of imposition of “punishment rates”, citing the hardwood and plywood case. The US took note of the statement.

The Committee reviewed new legislative notifications concerning anti-dumping by Australia, Cameroon, Chile, Morocco and the United States and continued the review of a previously reviewed legislative notification of Indonesia. Laos notified that its anti-dumping legislation is still being drafted.Brazil provided a preliminary overview of its new legislative notification on anti-dumping, which will be reviewed by the Committee at its next meeting.

Brazil said that its aim is to cut the duration of anti-dumping investigation from 15 to 10 months, and to have a preliminary determination within 120 days of initiating the investigation.

Source: http://www.wto.org/