On September 17, the European Union (EU) imposed
anti-dumping duties ranging from 14.1 percent to 56.2 percent on
certain finished polyester filament fabrics from China. The
decision was made after a nine-month investigation into the effect
of these goods on the European market.
The announcement was made on September 16, according to
China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles
(CCCT).
The EU's official journal listed anti-dumping duties for 45
Chinese textile enterprises, most of which are subject to duties of
14.1 percent or 37.1 percent.
One company, Wujiang Canhua Import and Export Co Ltd, will face
a tariff of 56.2 percent.
The anti-dumping duties are payable for five years.
The decision was made after a nine-month investigation
into the effect of these goods on the European market.
The output and market share of European products dropped by 20
percent in the EU market from April 2003 to last March, according
to a Xinhua News Agency report.
Xinhua quoted the EU's investigation as saying that Europe's
demand for polyester filament fabrics remained stable for the whole
period at around 732 million running meters, while China's exports
of the product to the EU grew from 135 million running meters in
2000 to 288 million running meters during the investigation
period.
"The anti-dumping duty of 56.2 percent effectively puts an end
to Wujiang's exports to Europe," said Sun Huaibin, spokesman for
the China Textile Industry Council.
Other lower tariffs will also have a huge impact on the affected
Chinese firms, Sun said.
He added that the profits for Chinese textile enterprises are
already very low, partly due to the revaluation of the Renminbi,
and the increasing costs of energy, raw materials and labor.
"These enterprises are facing a very difficult situation," Sun
said.
The EU first made dumping charges on March 15 this year, which
resulted in protests from Chinese producers. These firms submitted
an application to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to challenge
the ruling with the World Trade Organization.
The EU's preliminary decision was to levy duties of 20 percent
on 25 enterprises granted market economy status, and duties ranging
from 26.7 percent to 85.3 percent on another 31 firms.
(China Daily September 22, 2005)