Lack of confidence by the private sector in BoT&T blamed A SIGN of SA's legislatively disorganised anti-dumping procedures (FTW April 26, 2002)) is contained in the latest statistics from the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Formerly a hot-bed of anti-dumping actions - both as an instigator and as a target - SA has had a downturn in both categories, according to the report. In the second half of last year there were just seven new cases in SA, six with SA as instigator, and one against a local exporter. According to Francois Dubbelman of Deloitte & Touche (D&T), one reason might be "the declining confidence of the private sector in the way the Board on Tariffs & Trade conducts anti-dumping investigations". This in a scenario where the Board has been working legally blind with no legislative framework underpinning the way cases are conducted, nor how items under investigation are calculated. This has led to considerable "uncertainty and inconsistency" in anti-dumping actions. It's a situation where "antidumping investigations are an expensive tool to use in the absence of regulations," said Dubbelman. However, both parties see light at the end of the tunnel, with drafts of the long-awaited legislation currently doing the government rounds - and due out for public scrutiny in a month or so. These regulations to provide a legal framework for the anti-dumping investigations are expected to be finalised in December, according to Dubbelman.
