Vietnam opens anti-dumping probe into sugar imports from Thailand
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The Ministry of Industry and Trade has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into sugar imports from Thailand, which have increased six-fold this year.
The probe follows complaints by Vietnamese sugar producers that Thai exporters, with a subsidy from their government, are dumping their products in Vietnam and causing damage to the local sugar industry, the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam said in a statement.
The import of sugar from Thailand increased six times year-on-year in the first eight months of this year to nearly 950,000 tonnes, it said.
Vietnamese producers, represented by six major companies, said the surging imports hit their production, causing it to fall by 33 percent to 800,000 tonnes in the 2019-2020 crop.
They have sought an anti-dumping duty of 37.9 percent. Vietnam removed import duties on sugar imported from ASEAN countries this year in accordance with the commitments of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
Questions & Answers
Q.Which government body is carrying out the investigation?
Which government body is carrying out the investigation?
The Ministry of Industry and Trade initiated the anti-dumping investigation. The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam issued a statement regarding the probe into sugar imports.
Q.Why did sugar imports from Thailand increase so dramatically this year?
Why did sugar imports from Thailand increase so dramatically this year?
Vietnam removed import duties on sugar from ASEAN countries this year. This was in accordance with the commitments outlined in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
Q.What impact have the increased sugar imports had on Vietnamese producers?
What impact have the increased sugar imports had on Vietnamese producers?
Vietnamese sugar producers reported a 33 percent drop in their production for the 2019-2020 crop, falling to 800,000 tonnes. They claim the surging imports caused this decrease.
Q.What specific measure are Vietnamese sugar companies requesting?
What specific measure are Vietnamese sugar companies requesting?
Vietnamese sugar producers have asked for an anti-dumping duty to be imposed. They have sought a duty of 37.9 percent on sugar imports from Thailand.
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