More than 100 new anti-dumping investigations were launched in the second half of 2006, according to a new report issued by the World Trade Organization. Specifically, 19 member countries initiated a total of 103 new investigations, which compares with 96 new investigations launched in the same period of 2005.
However, 66 new final anti-dumping measures were applied from July 2006 through December 2006, down from 76 in the comparable period one year before.
China was the most frequent target of new investigations, with 36 investigations aimed at its exports from July 2006 through December 2006. The second most-frequent subject of new investigations was Indonesia, with seven, followed by Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea, which all tied for third place.
The products most frequently targeted in the new anti-dumping investigations were in the chemicals sector (25 initiations), pulp and paper (16) and base metals (also 16).
Who initiated the most new investigations during the second half of 2006? The European Communities led with 17, followed by India (12), Argentina (10) and Brazil (9).
Concerning the application of new final anti-dumping measures, Turkey led the way with its report of 10, followed by China (9) and India (8).
Much as they led as the most frequent target of new investigations, products exported from China also remained as the most frequent recipients of new anti-dumping measures, accounting for 22, or one-third, of the new measures reported in the tail half of 2006. Indonesia ranked second, with seven.
