Problems relating to Trade and Investment on Australia
9. Restrictive export/import trade, duty, and customs clearance |
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Issue |
Issue details |
Requests |
Reference |
| (1) Abuse of Antidumping Measures | - On 1 April 2004, GOA imposed provisional antidumping duties on thick steel plate from Japan, ROK, PRC, and Indonesia. On 1 April 2009, GOA terminated the antidumping measures upon reaching the termination date. - 15 June 2012: Initiation of antidumping investigation on hot rolled coil steel from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia. 2 December 2012: Decision of antidumping duty levy, Japan: 0% (Acid washed coil), 7% (Other than Acid Washed Coil), Korea: 2.6-11.8%, Taiwan: 2.6-8.2%, and Malaysia: 15%. - On 12 February 2013, GOA initiated investigation on hot rolled plate steel exported from PRC, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, ROK and Taiwan into alleged dumping and subsidisation. On 19 July 2013, GOA invoked provisions measures against 4-countries excluding Taiwan. On 19 December 2013, Antidumping Committee (ADC) made affirmative determination of dumping on 4-countries excluding Taiwan (CDV only on PRC), deciding the levy of antidumping duty: Japan: 14.3%, PRC: AD: 0 to 22.1%, Indonesia: 8.6 to 19.3%, ROK: 0 to 20.6%. In addition, ADC decided 2.6 to 36.9% countervailing duty levy as to PRC. - On 24 October 2013, GOA initiated antidumping investigation on hot rolled structural steel sections exported from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. - On 8 January 2014, GOA initiated antidumping investigation on quenched and tempered steel plate exported from Finland, Japan and Sweden. After imposition of provisional measures on 15 May August, on 15 November, GOA published its final affirmative decision. |
- It is requested that GOA repeals the antidumping measures. - It is requested that GOA repeals the measures. - It is requested that GOA withdraws antidumping investigation as to Japan. - It is requested that GOA withdraws antidumping investigation as to Japan. |
- Folio No. 88 Australian Customs Dumping Notice No. 2012/661 |
| (Action) - On 1 April 2004, GOA levied antidumping duty on thick plate steel from Japan, South Korea, PRC and Indonesia. - On 1 April 2009, GOA terminated antidumping measures upon reaching the termination date. - On 15 June 2012, GOA initiated antidumping investigation on hot rolled coil imported from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. - On 4 December 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard released Draft Reform Plan on Antidumping Measures, such as establishment of Dispute Research Committee and the 19-items subject to these measures, including Hot Rolled Plate Steel and Polyvinyl Chloride as to imports from Japan. - On 12 February 2013, The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection) released Australian Customs Dumping Notice No. 2013/18 Hot Rolled Plate Steel Exported from the People's Republic of China, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, Initiation of an Investigation into Alleged Dumping and Subsidisation, triggered by the petition received from BlueScope Steel. On 18 July 2013, Australia Anti-Dumping Commission published its Preliminary Affirmative Determination and Imposition of Securities on Hot Rolled Plate Steel imported from the People's Republic of China (including Countervailing Duty), Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan. Antidumping Duty of 14.3% applies as to all imports from Japan. - On 5 November 2014, GOA determined Final Antidumping Duty on Quenched and Tempered Steel Plate from Japan (24.5-26.1%), Sweden (9.6%) and Finland (10.8%). |
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| (2) Raise in the Port Service Charge by Large Margin | - A member firm of JBCTIF subsidiary exports wooden chips for papermaking raw materials, using public ports at Bunbury (WA), Portland (VIC) and Geelong (VIC). Port Authority has radically raised the Port Service Charge directly impacting the international competitive edge of the export products. - The harbour premises lease payments and airport terminal rent have gone up sky-high in recent years. Price increases, in many cases, are far above those of Commodity Price Index (CPI). Having nowhere else to pass on such price increases, member firm's subsidiary is forced to absorb the unilateral price increase. |
- Before effecting price hike in the port service charge, it is requested that the Port Authority provides to the users an opportunity for exchange of dialogues, provides sufficient explanation, and makes cautious decisions. - It is requested that GOA gives administrative guidance on facilities of highly public nature to institutionalise the annual increase (for example, within the band of CPI). |
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| (3) Fumigation Requirements on Importing Timber, Wooden Articles, Bamboo and Related Products | - The fumigation requirements must be completed before exporting to Australia the finished products manufactured from timber, wooden articles, bamboo and related products. | - It is requested that GOA takes step to repeal the fumigation requirements. | |
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