The Centre for WTO Studies, in partnership with the World Trade Organisation, organized a three day Regional Anti-Dumping Workshop for Asian Investigating Authorities from 3-5 October, 2016. The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Rita Teaotia, Secretary, Department of Commerce, in the presence of Mr Johann Human, Director Rules Division, WTO, Dr Surajit Mitra, Director, IIFT and Mr A K Bhalla, Additional Secretary and Designated Authority, DGAD.

The workshop saw the participation of 37 senior officials from investigating authorities in 18 countries, comprising of not just Asian developing countries but also developed countries like Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan and the United States. The event was a unique attempt 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.

Under the mandate of the Doha Round of WTO, the Negotiating Group on Rules is engaged in negotiations aimed at clarifying and improving the existing disciplines of the Anti-Dumping Agreement. There has been a long pause in the Rules negotiations in the WTO and some substantive issues confronting the negotiators will have to await the outcome of these negotiations. The Centre for WTO Studies had organized the first International Conference on Trade Remedies in April 2015. The WTO Secretariat was encouraged by the success of this conference and came forward to sponsor this workshop.

The Workshop was attended by Heads of eight Investigating Authorities viz. Mr. Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary, US Department of Commerce, Mr. Dale Seymour, Commissioner, Anti-Dumping Commission, Australia, Mr. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Additional Secretary & Designated Authority, Directorate General of Anti-dumping & Allied Duties, Mr. Leopoldo Rubinacci, Director Trade Defence EU, Ms. Rose Ritcey Member, Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Ms. Tomoko Ota, Director Trade Remedy Investigations Japan; Mr. Vladimir Ilichev Director, International Market Protection, Eurasian Economic Commission and Mr. Marco Fonseca, Director, Department of Trade Remedies, Brazi.

Ms. Carina Van Vuuren, Senior Manager, Trade Remedies, International Trade Administration Commission, South Africa; Mr. Gerhard Hannes Welge, Hearing Officer for Trade Proceedings, European Commission; and Mr Marco Fonseca from Brazil were the moderators for the Technical sessions.

Senior government officials from India’s Investigating Authority took active part in the technical sessions and exchanged their practices in the anti dumping investigations.

From the Rules Division of WTO Secretariat, Mr Johann Human, Director, Mr Jesse Kreier, Counsellor, and Mr Seref Coskun, Technical Trade Specialist actively participated in the Workshop’s proceedings.

The workshop aroused engaging discussions on core technical issues such as Questionnaires, information-gathering and verification; Use of “Facts Available”; Individual treatment/all others rates; The Sufficiency and Ordinary Course of Trade Tests; Definition of Standing and domestic industry and; Sunset reviews.

The participation from Indian government officials, legal practitioners, industry representatives and students reflected a deep sense of understanding regarding core technical issues that pertain to anti-dumping practises.

For details about the programme schedule, please click here.

To download the presentations made at the conference, please click here..

To view the gallery, please click here.

Report on Conference, please click here.