The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has developed an advisory service designed to help SME manufacturers who are suffering at the hands of 'dumping'.
The specialist service is available to both Australian SME manufacturers and primary producers that have suffered “economic injury caused by dumped or subsidised imports”, says Ai Group.
According to Ai Group chief executive designate, Innes Willox, the advisory service is an additional tool in the support services that Ai Group delivers to Australian SME businesses, and is open to all SMEs who qualify – not just Ai Group members.
"Until now, the cost and complexity of preparing an application for anti-dumping measures was just beyond the reach of most Australian SMEs,” said Willox.
“Now Australian businesses, no matter what their size, will have access to a specialist service to prepare and apply for anti-dumping measures, where appropriate.”
In June 2011, the government sought help from the Productivity Commission to review the operation of Australia’s anti-dumping laws.
Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Home Affairs, said at the time tat the anti-dumping reform agenda will help businesses move to a modern, high-skill, high-tech, clean energy economy which will create Australian jobs into the future.
“As part of the reform agenda, the government is also supporting Australian business to remedy the harmful effects of unfair trading practices like dumping and the subsidisation of goods by other countries. We are doing so through the most significant improvements to the anti-dumping and countervailing system in a decade,” O’Connor said in an address to the House of Representatives.
According to O’Connor, the government inherited an anti-dumping and countervailing system that ‘needed reform’.
Now, a new International Trade Remedies Advisor will reportedly provide advice about how eligible businesses can access ‘trade remedies’ against dumped or subsidised imports, and will assist them to prepare an application for anti-dumping or countervailing duties.
In lieu of a permanent appointment of an International Trade Remedies Advisor, a technical specialist from Customs and Border Protection, Arthur Vlahonasios, has been appointed.
Access the Ai Group’s International Trade Remedies Advisory Service for SMEs here.