Output 5 - Anti-dumping and countervailing administration
Policy
World Trade Organization participation
Customs played an active role in the formulation and presentation of Australia’s responses to issues arising in the WTO Doha round negotiations and contributed to debate and policy formulation on anti-dumping issues. The involvement of Customs officers in the WTO process enables Australia’s contribution to be supported by expert advice from practitioners.
International cooperation
Several delegations of Chinese government officials visited Australia to discuss Australia’s anti-dumping administration. These discussions were useful in building understanding between the two administrations.
Customs was represented at the fourth Australia-Korea Ministerial Joint Trade and Economic Commission Senior Officials’ meeting in May 2005. These meetings continue to promote understanding and dialogue on anti-dumping administration.
Customs delivered a presentation on Australian anti-dumping practice and procedure in relation to continuation inquiries at the 2005 Seoul International Trade Seminar.
In addition, Customs worked closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in further bilateral trade discussions with Korea and Indonesia.
Anti-dumping response to recognition of China’s market economy status
The Government’s decision to treat China as a market economy was a significant focus for Australia’s anti-dumping administration in 2004–05.
Following extensive consultation with industry and other stakeholders, Customs introduced regulatory and operational amendments. China will be treated the same as other WTO members for the purpose of anti-dumping in line with Australia’s anti-dumping regime. As a result, Australian industry has the same level of protection as it did prior to the changed arrangements. This outcome was generally supported by industry.
Consultation with stakeholders
Customs actively engaged with its stakeholders by participating in numerous discussions on policy and practice issues.
Customs and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) met this year to discuss issues of mutual interest. In particular, they discussed arrangements for exchange of information on investigations, and submissions that may be made by the ACCC to Customs investigations.
Given the important role performed by the Trade Measures Review Officer (TMRO) in Australia’s anti-dumping administration, regular meetings were held between Customs and the TMRO to discuss significant policy and administrative issues.
Customs attended industry group meetings to inform stakeholders of Customs role in Australia’s anti-dumping administration.
Cooperation with stakeholders – steel import monitoring
In 2002, in response to industry concerns about potential impacts of US steel safeguards, the Government established a Committee to monitor steel import trends. Customs continued to provide the Steel Import Monitoring Committee members with weekly graded alerts about changes in steel import volumes and prices. The Committee supplements this information with more detailed monthly information published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.