By Al Edwards, Financial EditorIN RESPECT of a final determination, the Anti-Dumping and Subsidies Commission (ADSC)
has determined that cement imported from Shandong China has been dumped on to the local market.
The ADSC has also decided to impose a definitive antidumping duty of 89.79 per cent on Chinese cement.
Earlier this year, the ADSC imposed a preliminary 96.27 per cent tariff on the importation of Portland Grey Cement from China effective March 29, having determined that the cement is dumped on to the Jamaican market.
In an unusual move and with no prompting from Mainland's rival Caribbean Cement Company (CCC), the Commission initiated its own investigation and began investigations into cement imports from China on its own initiative, pursuant to Section 4 of the Anti-Dumping and Subsidies Act.
It named Mainland International as the importer, and Shandong Metal and Minerals Corporation of China as the exporter and Longkou Fanlin Cement Company Limited as producer.
A statement by the ADSC issued on Monday 14th of June read : "The Commission has made an affirmative final determination pursuant to section 30 of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, in respect of the dumping in Jamaica of Ordinary Portland Grey Cement originating in, or exported from China, and finds that the goods under consideration have been dumped and the dumping has caused and is likely to cause material injury to the domestic industry .
"Pursuant to Section 30 of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, the commission has decided to impose a definitive antidumping duty in the amount of 89.79 per cent on all goods that are of the same description as those to which this affimative final determination applies. The duties will take effect from July 20,2004 and will be terminated five years from the date the duties take effect
"As a consequence of the Commission's determination Jamaica Customs will collect an anti-dumping duty on all goods imported into Jamaica that are of the same description, characteristics and purpose as those to which this Affirmative Final Determination applies, which are released after July 20, 2004 regardless of the importer of said goods.
Earlier this year, the ADSC's Executive Director Andrea Marie Brown, commenting on Chinese cement entering the local market said: "We want to get all the information out there available. If you choose to buy Chinese cement, there will be a duty attached to it. It's just a way of levelling the playing field."
Speaking with Wednesday Business yesterday, Caribbean Cement Company's General Manager said: " We at Caribbean Cement Company are happy that the ADSC took this decision, it is the right thing to do. There have been quality issues with the Chinese cement that has entered the Jamaican market. It must be made clear that that no Chinese cement has entered the market this year although there is still Egyptian cement out there.
"To date we have had a good year and we are supplying over 90 per cent of the entire market. This case of dumped Chinese cement has very little to do with us. In fact dumping cases involving the ADSC are country specific. Safeguard issues come under the ambit of the WTO. We are now eagerly awaiting a decision on safeguards issues where we are arguing that a tariff should be placed on all imported cement. A decision is expected sometime next month."
Last month a Government delegation from the People's Republic of China visited Jamaica to protest at the ADSC's decision to impose a 96.27 per cent tariff on Chinese cement. The Deputy Director General of China's Ministry of Commerce Fair Trade Department visit is the first such from China to this country.
Counsellor Hao Yong Jiang of the Chinese embassy said the initial imposition of a duty of 96.27 was unfair.
A statement from the Peoples Republic China Ministry of Commerce said: "China reserves the right to safeguard its legitimate interests through the judicial channel and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body."
Mainland's Chief Executive Group Investment Officer, Garth Walker was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
