WTO reports drop in new AD investigations, but increase in new AD measures

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has reported that the number of new antidumping (AD) investigations continued its downward trend during the first half of 2006, while the number of new final measures increased compared to the corresponding period of 2005. During the January 1, 2006-June 30, 2006 period, 20 member countries initiated a total of 87 new antidumping investigations, down from 105 initiated investigations during the corresponding period of 2005. A total of 15 members applied 71 new final antidumping measures during the first half of 2006, up by 29 percent compared to the 55 new measures applied during the first half of 2005. India, with 20 initiated investigations, led other members in new investigations during the first half of 2006. Following India were the European Community (17), Australia (9), and Argentina, Indonesia and Turkey (five each). China remains the most frequent subject of new investigations, with 32 initiated investigations directed at its exports during January-June 2006, compared with 23 during the corresponding period of 2005. Other targets included the US and Taiwan (6 each), and Thailand (5), followed by the European Community and its member states, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, each of which was the subject of four investigations. Products that were the object of new investigations during the first half of 2006 included base metals (19 cases), followed by machinery (16 cases), plastics (13 cases), and chemicals (11 cases). Regarding new final anti-dumping measures, China led the list during the first half of 2006, applying 15 of the 71 total new measures reported. The figure indicates an increase compared to the 10 new measures reported for January-June 2005. Following China were Turkey (11 new measures), India (8) and Egypt (7). The European Community, Mexico and Pakistan each reported applying five new measures during the subject period, while Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Indonesia, Korea, Peru, South Africa and the US each reported applying three or fewer new measures. Products in the chemicals sector were the most frequent object of new measures during the first half of 2006, accounting for 23 of the total of 71 new measures. The plastics sector was next, with 14 new measures affecting products in this sector. Third was the textiles sector, with nine measures, followed by base metals with seven.