Decline in the use of Anti-dumping Duties

On 19 May 2005 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) reported that from 1 July 2004 to 31 December 2004, both the number of initiations of new ant-dumping investigations, and the number of new final anti-dumping measures applied, showed substantial declines compared with the corresponding period in 2003. According to the WTO, this reflects the declining trend noted in the first half of 2004, and in particular during the period 1 July 2004 to 31 December 2004. During this period 17 WTO members initiated a total of 103 investigations, which is down from 135 investigations for the corresponding period in 2003. With regard to final anti-dumping duties, 15 WTO Members applied a total of 91 anti-dumping duties in the second half of 2004, down from 108 applied in the second half of 2003.