Anti-dumping measures for fair trade, says EU
Anti-dumping measures for fair trade, says EU
JAKARTA (JP): Head of the European Union's (EU) representation
in Indonesia defended yesterday the anti-dumping measures taken
by the EU as a means of ensuring an honest and competitive
trading system.
"Those measures are to ensure fair trading," EU's ambassador
Klauspeter Schmallenbach said.
He told journalists at the French embassy yesterday that the
anti-dumping measures were not rashly pursued and taken only
after a comprehensive investigation of the charges.
Anti-dumping measures occur when a country imposes duties on
another's products on grounds that they are imported at cheaper
prices than those on the domestic market.
Schmallenbach was speaking at a briefing on the ascendancy of
France as head of the 15-nation organization. The presidency is
rotated among EU members every six months.
The European Union, an evolution of the European Economic
Community (EEC), which was set up in 1957, currently comprises
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Britain,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain and Sweden.
According to Schmallenbach, there are eight charges of dumping
against Indonesian products now pending investigation.
The most recent case was formally charged last week when the
EU accused Indonesia of dumping shoe products on the European
market.
Other allegations in the last year also came in the area of
textile products such as polyester yarn, and bicycles.
Schmallenbach pledged that the allegations would be inquired
fairly, according to established procedures.
Nevertheless, just a week ago World Trade Organization chief
Peter Sutherland warned of the damaging consequences on the
abuses of anti-dumping measures.
French Ambassador Dominique Girard explained yesterday that
during its presidency of the EU, France would focus on economic
development and job creation.
Attention would also be given to promoting European security
and asserting the diversity of European culture.
Spanish ambassador A. Sanchez-Jara said that Asia would be
among the highlighted geographical areas when Spain assumes EU's
presidency in July.
He also pointed out the likelihood of an EU-Asia summit that
might take place within the coming year.(mds)