More countries adopt anti-dumping action this year
08 May 1999
For years, the developed countries specialised in initiating anti-dumping cases against imports from developing countries. The poorer countries have learned from this experience, and have begun anti-dumping campaigns of their own.
According to Rowe & Maw, a London law firm, the US, European Union, Australia and Canada accounted for only a third of the 225 anti-dumping cases opened in 1998. These countries earlier accounted for most of such cases -- as many 80 per cent of them in late 1980s.
The study uses World Trade Organisation figures to show that a record 26 countries opened anti-dumping cases in 1998, compared to 22 in 1997, and only seven in 1989. South Africa opened 41 cases, India 30 and Brazil 16. In comparison, the US opened 34, and the European Union 22.
Steel was the focus of the largest number of anti-dumping cases in 1998, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of all cases. Many of these cases were opened by Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa, whose steel industries have been at the receiving end of anti-dumping action by the US and European Union.
Anti-dumping duties are the only way open for WTO members to legally restrict imports by levying higher import duties to prevent "unfair competition" from hurting domestic producers.
