The Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations at WTO provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the rules on anti-dumping so that its application becomes fairer, objective and transparent, said Commerce Secretary Ms. Rita Teotia. Inaugurating the Delhi Regional Anti-Dumping Workshop for Asian Investigating Authorities, she noted that it was time for active users of anti-dumping measures to share their best practices with each other and learn from each other's experiences. The Workshop organised by the World Trade Organisation and the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade brings together 37 senior officials from 18 investigating authority systems. Senior experts from developing countries in the Asian region, along with select developed countries like Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan and the United States are participating in the workshop.

This Workshop is a unique and the only event of its kind globally, Mr. Johann Human, Director, Rules Division of the WTO Secretariat, noted. The Workshop aims to assist Asian developing WTO Members' investigating authorities to further enhance their technical capacity to conduct anti-dumping investigations in a fair and efficient manner, in conformity with WTO rules.

Dr. Surajit Mitra, Director, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade pointed that the conduct of sunset reviews by different countries and the extension of anti-dumping and countervailing duties after such reviews is a matter of grave concern which the participants of the Workshop should dwell upon. In addition to sunset reviews, the Workshop will also discuss transparency and rights of defence, Questionnaires, information-gathering and verification, use of facts available, standing and domestic industry definitions etc.

Mr. A. K. Bhalla, Additional Secretary and Designated Authority observed that anti-dumping rules helps countries to ensure free and fair trade within its domestic market and is an important tool available with India, considering its stage of industrial development. Mr. Bhalla also informed that steps are being taken to make the Indian anti-dumping investigation process ISO compliant and the government will also soon launch an interactive website to keep all the stakeholders in the process informed.

Anti dumping rules: workshop promotes fair, transparent investigations and capacity building on sunset reviews and verification practices. The workshop emphasized aligning domestic procedures with WTO norms and enhancing technical capacity so that anti dumping measures are applied fairly, objectively and transparently. Key procedural topics included sunset reviews and extensions of duties after review, transparency and rights of defence, questionnaires, information gathering and verification, and use of facts available. Operational reforms noted were moves toward ISO compliance for investigations and creation of an interactive stakeholder website.