US complains about China's antidumping complaint

29/12/2011 12:00 - 361 Views

US trade officials have spoken of their disappointment that China has sought World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations on its shrimp antidumping measures, claiming the act could be counterproductive.

China has filed a complaint against the US with the WTO as it feels the US’ zeroing method of calculating anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese warmwater shrimp is unfair and has hurt exports.

The zeroing methodology compares the domestic price of a product with the import price to the US, but ignores products that cost more than they do in their home market. Critics of this methodology claim that it results in inflated antidumping duties.

Following complaints from trade partners, the US announced in December that this method would be scrapped.

“The US hasn't attempted to adjust the antidumping duties imposed on Chinese warmwater shrimps. Once the cancellation of zeroing was approved officially, it should have applied to all global trade cases,” Zhang Aiqing, a former director of Department of Treaty and Law under the Ministry of Commerce, told China Daily.

In response to the complaint, Nefeterius McPherson, a spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative's office, said the US was “deeply disappointed” in China’s decision to pursue the matter further.

She said: “Members have called for the US to come into compliance with the WTO rulings on zeroing. In December, the Department of Commerce issued a proposal to end zeroing in administrative reviews, the core issue on which the government of China has today requested consultations.

“Nonetheless, China has determined to pursue consultations even as the US is in the midst of its domestic legal and administrative compliance process, including consultations with Congress.

“The decision now by China to pursue new claims against the US on zeroing only complicates resolution of this issue.”

Source: gtglobaltrader.com