MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina imposes antidumping measures on Chinese and Brazilian imports

The Chinese ban on Argentine soy-oil imports remains unchanged

In spite of the ongoing dispute with China over the soy-oil import ban, Argentina this week imposed antidumping measures in the form of ad valorem rights on multi-processors originated in China and Brazil.

The resolution from the Ministry of Industry published this week in the Argentine Official Gazette argues that “according to reports from technical task groups belonging to the Industry and Trade Secretary which determined the existence of damage to national industry because of the import of these produce under conditions of dumping”.

Participation of these imports under investigation, in local apparent consumption increased from 69% to 81% in recent years, to “the disadvantage of national production which also lost profitability given the level of prices of the imported goods”.

Antidumping measures were also slapped on the import of polyester textiles for voile curtains, originated in China.

“The national industry sector dedicated to polyester textiles for curtains employs 60 workers and their market participation has fallen form 43 to 37%, while the participation of Chinese imports increased from 0.2% to 31% which also originated a fall in the industry’s profitability”, according to the resolution.

Polyester textiles for curtains from Brazil were also investigated, but no measures were imposed since “no evidence of dumping was found nor the cause of damages to national industry”, explains the resolution.

China banned Argentine soy-oil imports by demanding stricter residual standards in apparent retaliation for a series of restrictive measures imposed on imports from China which the Kirchner administration considered ‘dumping’ and infringing World Trade Organization regulations.

President Cristina Kirchner earlier this month made a much promoted several days trip to China, meeting with Beijing’s top hierarchy, but the soy-oil dispute remains unchanged.

China absorbs almost 70% of Argentina’s soy-oil production, the world’s leading exporter.