Case collection of anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard measures against Chinese products abroad

Author: Compiled by the Import and Export Fair Trade Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation
Publisher:
Publishing Date: November 1, 2002
Features: Anti-dumping, countervailing measures, and safeguard measures are administrative tools permitted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) for member countries to protect domestic industries and markets, resist unfair competition from imported products, or address surges in imports. However, with the slowdown in global economic growth and the rise of trade protectionism, some countries have increasingly used anti-dumping, countervailing measures, and safeguard measures to restrict imports, which has had a significant negative impact on the development of international trade. After China joined the WTO, the use of anti-dumping, countervailing measures, and safeguard measures against Chinese export products has attracted widespread attention both domestically and internationally. According to Chinese statistics, since August 1979, when the European Economic Community (EEC) first imposed anti-dumping measures on China's exports, by October 2002, 502 anti-dumping investigations and 42 safeguard measures had been initiated against China by 33 countries and regions, totaling 544 cases. These anti-dumping investigations have involved more than 4,000 types of goods from China's mining and chemical, light industry and textile, agricultural and livestock, and machinery and electronics sectors. According to WTO statistics, China is the country most frequently subject to anti-dumping investigations worldwide. From 1990 to 2001 alone, 397 anti-dumping cases were initiated against China, accounting for approximately 15% of the total number of cases worldwide during that period. This means that one out of every six or seven cases involved foreign actions against China. It is evident that anti-dumping and safeguard measures targeting China have become one of the main and increasingly significant threats to China's foreign trade development.
To actively address the challenges of joining the WTO and fully utilize the rights granted by the WTO to protect China's export and industrial interests, the Import and Export Fair Trade Bureau was established separately under the approval of the State Council in November 2001. One of the primary tasks and responsibilities of the Import and Export Fair Trade Bureau is to guide domestic enterprises and intermediary organizations to actively defend against anti-dumping, countervailing measures, and safeguard investigations initiated against Chinese products by foreign countries. We believe that to effectively carry out this work, it is essential not only to conduct in-depth research on the legal provisions of relevant countries but also to strengthen the study of specific cases. Through the summary and analysis of cases, actively exploring some recurring issues in foreign anti-dumping cases against Chinese products will undoubtedly benefit future anti-dumping defense efforts, including challenging and correcting unfair practices against Chinese products through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
Based on the above considerations, we have compiled a series of books that comprehensively introduce specific cases of anti-dumping, countervailing measures, and safeguard measures taken against China by foreign countries. This series consists of five volumes: "The United States Volume," "The Europe Volume," "The Latin America Volume," "The Asia-Africa Volume," and "Canada and Australia Volume." The contributors to this series are government officials engaged in international trade and foreign trade law, as well as some lawyers working in these fields. Each case in this book is composed of two parts: the basic facts of the case and relevant comments. These cases provide rich and detailed foundational materials, along with discussions and explanations on the anti-dumping laws and practices of the countries and regions involved, based on practical work experience. Additionally, the comments analyze the actions of Chinese enterprises during case defenses, aiming to summarize experiences and identify strengths and weaknesses.
Considering the needs of readers at different levels, we have strived to structure this book in a progressive manner, starting from basic concepts and gradually expanding into more detailed discussions. Many topics requiring in-depth exploration will be continuously enriched as this series is published over time. We believe that this book will serve as a valuable reference for relevant government departments, intermediary organizations, and personnel in domestic industries and enterprises studying anti-dumping and related legal issues.