asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the anti-dumping measures he has taken to date to protect Irish manufacturers; and the plans he has to improve these measures.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anti-Dumping Measures.
7.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Communities responsibility for the control of dumping has passed to the EEC Commission. My Department will, however, assist in any way possible within the limits of the anti-dumping Code of the European Communities any Irish manufacturer having a complaint concerning dumping.
The amendment of anti-dumping measures is not a matter in relation to which this country can act unilaterally. As a member state of the European Economic Communities this country will, however, participate actively in any move towards improving the international rules relating to dumping.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement setting out particulars of anti-dumping duties imposed pursuant to the Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1968 and which are still in operation. The statement is attached.
Anti-Dumping Duties imposed pursuant to the Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsides) Act, 1968 and in operation in October, 1978.
|
Product |
Country of Origin |
Date from which operative |
Rate of Duty |
|
Pencils of a length of 8” or less |
China |
14/11/1972 |
£1.02 per gross |
|
Pencils of a length of more than 8” |
China |
14/11/1972 |
£2.04 per gross |
|
Footwear having uppers of leather of a kind commonly used in the performance of physical work |
Czechoslovakia |
18/12/1973 |
28% |
|
Blouses, blouse shirts, shirts and similar articles wholly or mainly of synthetic textile fibres |
South Korea |
18/7/1975 |
40% |
|
Wood-cased pencils |
Czechoslovakia |
28/6/1977 |
£1.49 per gross |
|
(a) steel reinforcing bars |
Spain |
30/6/1977 |
(a) £4.00 per tonne |
|
(b) steel angles |
(b) £22.00 per tonne |
||
|
Wooden Louvre Doors |
Taiwan |
30/6/1977 |
38% ad valorem |
|
Hardboard |
(a) Czechoslovakia |
30/6/1977 |
(a) £11.00 per 100 sq. metres |
|
(b) Poland |
(b) £10.00 per 100 sq. metres |
||
|
Bond Printing Paper |
Brazil |
30/6/1977 |
£55.00 per tonne |
May I take it that the anti-dumping laws as they are operated and as they are intended to operate, are to prevent the Government-assisted price operation in respect of imported goods? In other words, is the legislation intended to prevent the unfair competition that might result from assistance given by governments to imports?
Dumping occurs when a product is exported at a price lower than that at which it is sold on the home market and when material injury is thereby caused or threatened to a Community industry.
Obviously, this does not affect or bring within its ambit of control a commodity that will be sold in its country of origin at a subsidised price and carrying the subsidy to the export market concerned?
That would be going into the realm of countervailing action at EEC level. It is part of the whole GATT negotiations that are at present in progress.
Having regard to a reply given by the Minister yesterday to my question in relation to bread imports and exports across the Border, is this not a very relevant part of what I was asking about them—the question of an examination of bread prices and of competition in that area?
As I indicated yesterday, if the Deputy lets me have details of any case he may have in mind, I shall have it examined fully in the Department.