1st LD: Brussels presents proposal for new anti-dumping regime

The European Commission Wednesday presented its long-waited proposal for a new methodology for anti-dumping investigations, linked to the scheduled expiration of current "non-market status" treatment toward third countries including China.

European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen and Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom announced the new methodology at a press conference in Brussels.

The new regime is expected to scrap a list of "non-market economies", but European Union (EU) officials earlier said that it would not grant any country the "market economy status" and ensure that the bloc's trade defence arsenal could maintain an equivalent level of protection.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, left open the option to use "international" price and cost reference in further anti-dumping cases if "market distortion" was found in a third country, which could still fall short of its obligation to international trade rules.

The new anti-dumping regime was tabled after a routine meeting of EU commissioners earlier the day, and is scheduled to be submitted to other European decision-makers including the European Council and the European Parliament.

The proposal came only one month before the expiration of some provisions under the Article 15 of the Protocol on China's accession to the World Trade Organization, due on Dec. 11. Endit