ID :
190391
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 13:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/190391
The shortlink copeid
Govt announces new anti-dumping measures
The federal government has announced a suite of measures to improve anti-dumping laws, while reaffirming the nation's commitment to world trading rules.
Dumping occurs where a company exports its goods to Australia at a price below the price it charges in its home market or below cost.
Where that dumping materially injures an Australian business producing similar goods, additional Customs duties can be applied as a remedy.
"Australia's economy is strong but some industries are vulnerable to dumping," Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Australian manufacturers and primary producers, especially smaller businesses, are finding the expense and complexity of taking anti-dumping action can be prohibitive. Our changes will help."
He said the government's new measures provide greater certainty for manufacturers and primary producers, as well as their workers, families and communities.
The new measures include a 45 per cent increase in Customs staff working on anti-dumping issues over the next 12 months to ensure cases are dealt with more efficiently and a 30-day time limit for ministerial decisions on anti-dumping cases.
A greater use of trade and industry experts will be used to investigate complaints and a more rigorous appeals process will be supported by more resources, while the practices and decisions of other countries will be regularly considered.
"What is really important here is Australia's national interest...(and) to ensure everything we do is consistent with World Trade Organisation rules," Trade Minister Craig Emerson told reporters in Canberra.
Mr O'Connor said Opposition Leader Tony Abbott now needed to declare where he stood on dumping.
"So far all we've had from him is slogans and rhetorical flourishes," Mr O'Connor said.
Dr Emerson said that under the current system small and medium sized businesses bore high costs and waited a long time to get their cases heard, but they would be assisted under the new system.
However, he said he did not want the system abused.
"We are not interested in an anti-dumping regime being some form of backdoor form of protectionism," Dr Emerson said.
"But where there are transaction costs that are prohibitive and there is genuine dumping occurring we think that is reasonable (for them to bring cases)."
Dumping occurs where a company exports its goods to Australia at a price below the price it charges in its home market or below cost.
Where that dumping materially injures an Australian business producing similar goods, additional Customs duties can be applied as a remedy.
"Australia's economy is strong but some industries are vulnerable to dumping," Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Australian manufacturers and primary producers, especially smaller businesses, are finding the expense and complexity of taking anti-dumping action can be prohibitive. Our changes will help."
He said the government's new measures provide greater certainty for manufacturers and primary producers, as well as their workers, families and communities.
The new measures include a 45 per cent increase in Customs staff working on anti-dumping issues over the next 12 months to ensure cases are dealt with more efficiently and a 30-day time limit for ministerial decisions on anti-dumping cases.
A greater use of trade and industry experts will be used to investigate complaints and a more rigorous appeals process will be supported by more resources, while the practices and decisions of other countries will be regularly considered.
"What is really important here is Australia's national interest...(and) to ensure everything we do is consistent with World Trade Organisation rules," Trade Minister Craig Emerson told reporters in Canberra.
Mr O'Connor said Opposition Leader Tony Abbott now needed to declare where he stood on dumping.
"So far all we've had from him is slogans and rhetorical flourishes," Mr O'Connor said.
Dr Emerson said that under the current system small and medium sized businesses bore high costs and waited a long time to get their cases heard, but they would be assisted under the new system.
However, he said he did not want the system abused.
"We are not interested in an anti-dumping regime being some form of backdoor form of protectionism," Dr Emerson said.
"But where there are transaction costs that are prohibitive and there is genuine dumping occurring we think that is reasonable (for them to bring cases)."
