The Hindu Business Line : India is second in initiating new anti-dumping probes: WTO

New Delhi June 13 India follows the European Union (EU) in setting off the highest number of new anti-dumping initiations during the second half of 2006, even as the number of initiations reported by India, Argentina and China declined while those by the EU, Malaysia and Brazil increased, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has said.

In its latest report on anti-dumping probes by its members, the WTO Secretariat reported that during the period 1 July to 31 December 2006, 19 members reported initiating a total of 103 new investigations, compared with 96 initiations in the corresponding period of 2005. A total of 15 members reported applying 66 new final anti-dumping measures during the July-December 2006 period, compared with 76 new measures reported for the period July-December 2005.

Twenty-seven of the 103 new initiations were opened by developed members, and 17 of the 66 new final measures were applied by developed members, during the second half of 2006. This compares with 23 new initiations opened and 26 new measures applied by developed members during the second half of 2005.

The EU initiated 17 new probes followed by India (12), Argentina (10), Brazil (9), Malaysia (8) and China (7). During the corresponding period of 2005, the members reporting the highest numbers of new initiations were India (14), China (13), Argentina (11), the European Communities (9), and Pakistan and the United States (8 each).

China remained the most frequent subject of the new investigations, with 36 initiations directed at its exports during July-December 2006, up from 33 during the corresponding period of 2005. Indonesia was the second most frequent subject, with seven initiations of new investigations directed at its exports. Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea were tied for third place and Brazil was in fourth place. Singapore, the US , India, Thailand, Argentina, the European communities and its member States, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Australia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Macedonia, Philippines and Saudi Arabia were the subject of fewer than five initiations each during the second half of 2006.

The products that were the most frequent subject of the reported new investigations during July-December 2006 were in the chemicals sector (25), followed by pulp and paper (16) and base metals (16). Of the 25 initiations in chemicals products, the European Communities reported eight, China and India each seven, Turkey two, and Egypt one.

On the application of new final anti-dumping measures, Turkey reported the largest number (10) for the second half of 2006, while China reported nine new measures, an increase of 50 per cent from the six new measures it reported for the second half of 2005. Following China were India (8), the European Communities and Korea (7 each), and Egypt (5). Products exported from China remained the most frequent subject of new measures, accounting for 22, the same number reported for the corresponding period of 2005. India ranked third, with six new measures directed at its exports.

Concerning the affected sectors, products in the textiles were the most frequent subject of new measures during July-December 2006, accounting for 14 of the 66 total new measures reported. Products in the plastics sector were in second place, with 13 new measures. Base metals and machinery sectors were tied for third place, with eight new measures each. Of the 14 new measures reported on products in the textiles sector, India applied seven, Korea applied three, China two, and Chinese Taipei and Peru applied one each, the WTO said.