WTO Finds China Breached Anti-Dumping Rules

A World Trade Organization dispute panel found that China’s anti-dumping duties on imports of X-ray security inspection equipment from the European Union were in breach of WTO anti-dumping rules.

WTO rules say that anti-dumping duties can only be imposed under strict conditions to address cases in which exports sold below fair value cause damage to the domestic industry of the importing county, known as “injurious dumping.” The panel agreed with the EU that these conditions were not met in this case and also largely upheld other claims by the EU in the dispute.

“Today’s WTO ruling clearly confirms that countries using trade defense measures have to play by the rules,” said Karel De Gucht, EU Trade Commissioner, in a written statement.

The European Commission has also launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar glass from China, based on a complaint lodged by the association EU ProSun Glass, which claims solar glass from China is being dumped in the European Union at prices below market value and causing material injury to the EU solar glass industry.

The investigation could take up to 15 months, although under trade defense rules, the EU could impose provisional anti-dumping duties within nine months if they are deemed necessary.

Solar glass is mainly used for the production of solar panels, as well as other solar energy products.