Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 12 • Number 26 • 16th July 2008
Anti-Dumping Cases Dropped in Second Half of 2007, WTO Reports
The Secretariat of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) reported last week that there was a drop in the number of anti-dumping investigations initiated during the final six months of 2007, as compared with the same period in 2006.
Altogether the cases initiated on dumping - the practice of selling goods more cheaply overseas than in the producer country’s home market - fell by seven percent in comparison with the second half of 2006. Fourteen Members reported initiating a total of 101 new investigations, compared with the 109 investigations that were launched in the second half of 2006.
While India, the US and Korea initiated the greatest number of new cases in the latter half of 2007, China remained the most frequent target of the new investigations, with 40 of the new cases directed at its exports. Korea and Thailand, with eight new suits each, were the second-most-frequent targets of new anti-dumping probes.
Products in the machinery and equipment sector were most commonly subject to the new investigations, followed by chemicals, textiles, and base metals.
The report also tracked the number of times that Members took measures to counter the effects of other countries’ dumping practices. Such anti-dumping measures, which usually come in the form of punitive tariffs against the offending country, also dropped in the second half of last year.
From July to December 2007 the number of new anti-dumping actions dropped by 12 percent. Altogether, 13 Members applied 58 new final measures against unfairly priced imports during the second half of 2007 compared with 66 new measures reported by 15 Members for the corresponding period in 2006.
India initiated the greatest number of new measures; Brazil enacted the second-highest number measures, while China and the European Communities tied for third.
Products exported from China were the most common target of new anti-dumping measures, accounting for almost half (26) of the new initiatives. Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan followed with four each.
Dumped goods from the chemical sector were the most frequent target of anti-dumping measures, accounting for 23 of the 58 measures reported from July to December 2007.
The Secretariat’s report is based on WTO Members’ semi-annual submissions to the Anti-Dumping Practices Committee.
ICTSD reporting; “WTO reports declines in antidumping investigations,” OFFICIAL EXPORT GUIDE, 10 July, 2008. “Anti-dumping cases continue to fall in 2007,” NEWINDPRESS, 9 July, 2008.