In a Government Gazette notice of 01 August 2014 the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) announced the final determination in the sunset review of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia.
In accordance with the provisions in the Anti-Dumping Regulations (ADR), any definitive anti-dumping duty shall be terminated on a date not later than five years from the date of imposition, unless the authorities determine, in a review initiated before that date on their own initiative or upon a duly substantiated request made by or on behalf of the domestic industry, that the expiry of the duty would likely lead to the continuation and/or recurrence of dumping and injury.
On 28 June 201 Itac notified the interested parties through Notice No. 664 of 2013 in Government Gazette No. 36592, that unless a substantiated request was made indicating that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties against imports of gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury, the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia would expire on 05 March 2014. The sunset review investigation was initiated pursuant to Notice No. 111 of 2014 in Government Gazette No. 37337, published on 21 February 2014. Initiation letters to interested parties were sent on 24 February 2014. The due date for responses was 02 April 2014.
A request for extension was received from PT. Siam-Indo Gypsum Industry (Siam-Indo), an exporter of gypsum plasterboard stating that it had only received notice of the investigation on 26 March 2014 and given the limited time to submit the information, requested extension. Itac’s records indicated that notice of the initiation of the investigation as well as all the relevant documents, delivered via courier, were received by Siam-Indo on 28 February 2014. Itac therefore decided not to grant the extension. No properly documented responses were therefore received from any interested party.
After considering all the information submitted by the Applicant, Itac issued essential facts letters indicating that it was considering making a final determination that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury. Comments on the "essential facts" letters were received from the Applicant and Siam-Indo.
After considering all the comments received from the Applicant to Itac’s essential facts letters, Itac made a final determination that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury.
Itac therefore, recommended to the Minister of Trade and Industry that the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Thailand and Indonesia be maintained.
The Minister approved the ITAC's recommendation.