SYDNEY: Australia Tuesday announced tough new anti-dumping measures to counter
an influx of cheap products that are hurting its struggling manufacturing
industry and costing jobs.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
the moves would "deliver stronger protection for Australian industry
against unfair competition from overseas".
"It is not acceptable for Australian
jobs to be put at risk by products being dumped into this country," she
said, while refusing to single out any specific nations or put a value on
dumped goods.
Dumping refers to the unfair
trade practice where imported goods are sold at prices below their normal
value, hurting local businesses and their workers.
"The government will support
manufacturing by strengthening the system for investigating dumping and
applying remedies where dumping is injuring local producers," Gillard
said.
The measures include establishing
a new Anti-Dumping Commission to probe complaints while boosting funding to
Customs by nearly A$25 million (US$26 million) so it can double the number of
investigators.
New laws will also be introduced
to deal with overseas producers who deliberately circumvent Australia's
anti-dumping rules.
Australia's manufacturing
industry employs a million people with products affected by dumping in recent
years including steel, chemicals, aluminium goods and paper products.
While Australia's mining-driven
economy dodged recession during the global financial crisis, its manufacturers
have been hit not only by cheap dumped products, but a high Australian dollar
and intense global competition.
The Construction, Forestry,
Mining and Energy Union, which has long campaigned with other unions for a
dedicated anti-dumping commission, welcomed the announcement.
"Australian industry and
jobs have been suffering from the impact of dumped goods for too long,"
said CFMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor.
"This new agency should help
level the playing field for locally produced goods through investigating and
penalising dumpers."
- AFP/ck
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment