Anti-dumping duty is the most commonly used trade remedy measure in Australia (accounting for 89.4% of the total number of trade remedy investigations initiated by Australia). Australia is one of the top users of anti-dumping measures. According to WTO statistics, by the end of 2023, Australia has initiated a total of 381 trade remedy investigations, and decided to impose duties on 177 cases (this number is significantly higher than the 18 Anti-subsidy measures and 0 Safeguard measure imposed by Australia).

Table 1: Top users of Anti-dumping measures in the last 05 years (initiated investigations)

Source: WTO statistics

After a period of decline (2021-2022), the number of Anti-dumping investigations initiated by most countries in the world tends to increase again in 2023. However, for Australia, the number of  initiated Anti-dumping investigations in this country has not increased again in the previous year. Specifically, Australia only initiated 03 Anti-dumping investigations in 2023, this number is equivalent to 2022, halved compared to 06 cases in 2021 and significantly reduced compared to 24 cases in 2020.

Chart 1: Trends of initiation of anti-dumping investigations by some economies (2019-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

The countries/territories subject to the most Anti-dumping measures by Australia

According to WTO statistics, Australia conducts Anti-dumping investigations the most for imports originating from the following countries/territories: China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan (China)... In which, China is the country subject to the most Anti-dumping investigations with 64 initiations (accounting for 16.8% of Australia’s total Anti-dumping investigations). Vietnam is also in the top 8 countries/territories with the most Anti-dumping investigations by Australia with a total of 13 initiated cases (accounting for 3.4%).

Chart 2: Top countries/territories subject to the most Anti-dumping initiations by Australia (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

Of the 381 cases initiated, Australia has imposed Anti-dumping measures on 177 cases. Among them, China is the country where Australia has applied the most anti-dumping measures with a total of  32 cases (accounting for 18.1% of the total 177 measures imposed by Australia), followed by South Korea with 23 measures (accounting for 13%), Thailand with 16 measures (accounting for 9%)...

For Vietnam, in the 13 initiated Anti-dumping investigations, Australia imposed Anti-dumping duties on 08 cases on Vietnamese export.

Chart 3: Top countries/Territories subject to the most Anti-dumping investigations by Australia: Initiating and Imposing (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

Sectors subject to the most Anti-dumping measures by Australia

There are many sectors subject to anti-dumping measures by WTO members. Base metals and articles are the group subject to the most anti-dumping duty, accounting for 33,1% of the total number of anti-dumping measures globally, followed by Chemical and Allied Industries (accounting for 20,9%), plastics and rubber (accounting for 12.2%). In other words, products for industrial use seem to be the main subjects of trade remedies.

Chart 4: Sectors subject to the most Anti-dumping measures globally (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

In Australia, Anti-dumping measures are mainly applied to metal products (accounting for 45.2%), followed by paper, cardboard and their products, which are subject to the second highest anti-dumping duty rate at 16.4%, followed by plastics, rubber (10.2%), products of the chemical industry (7.9%), etc.

Chart 5: Top sectors subject to the most Anti-dumping measures by Australia (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI