New anti-dumping laws to "level the playing field"

The Australian Parliament has passed new anti-dumping reforms that it says will “level the playing field”, enabling Australian manufacturers to compete with international businesses.

“The new measures complement earlier reforms to Australia’s anti-dumping system that improve the support, assistance and information available to business,” said Industry and Science Minister Ian Macfarlane.

“The new laws, paired with the new regulations the government has already introduced, will place a greater onus on overseas businesses to cooperate with anti-dumping investigations.”

Changes to improve the Anti-Dumping Review Panel’s powers will help reduce delaying tactics that can draw matters out, said Karen Andrews, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Science.

“The government won’t stand idly by while some overseas companies flout the international trading system to injure Australian companies,” Andrews said.

“These reforms show that Australia will take action if you try to dump your goods here.”

An expanded International Trade Remedies Advisory service is improving accessibility and understanding of the anti-dumping system for Australian small and medium-sized businesses. Part of AusIndustry, the new advisory service helps these businesses prepare applications for dumping and countervailing duties.

The Anti-Dumping Commissioner has also been given enhanced powers to take decisive action against companies trying to circumvent anti-dumping duties.