ENG-1991 — Page 117

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

EEC (January 1, 1987, to December 31, 1991) for one more year up to December 31, 1992, on the same conditions.

Non-textiles Issues

In 1991, no new anti-dumping proceedings were initiated by the EEC against Hong Kong companies. The EEC announced the termination of the provisional anti-dumping duty in respect of audio cassette tapes in May 1991, and the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties ranging from 2.1 per cent to 4.8 per cent in respect of small screen colour television receivers in July.

The EEC has now completed its investigations on all eight anti-dumping proceedings initiated against Hong Kong between December 1987 and March 1989. The cases concerning cellular mobile radio telephones, denim cloth, photo albums, silicon metal, tungsten ores and audio cassette tapes were terminated without imposition of any anti-dumping duties. Definitive anti-dumping duties were imposed on video cassette tapes and small screen colour television receivers.

In September 1990, the United States authorities decided that man-made fibre sweaters from Hong Kong were being sold in the United States at less than fair value and that such imports materially injured the United States industry. In the same month, the United States Department of Commerce issued an anti-dumping duty order imposing, in most cases, an additional duty of 5.86 per cent on imports of man-made fibre sweaters from Hong Kong.

Having considered the case in detail, Hong Kong took the view that the anti- dumping duty imposed was not in conformity with the relevant provisions of the GATT Anti-dumping Code. The Hong Kong Government, therefore, requested consultations with the United States. Consultations took place in May 1991 in Washington D.C. but failed to achieve a mutually agreed solution. The Hong Kong Government subsequently referred the matter to the GATT Committee on Anti-dumping Practices.

In December 1990, Turkey initiated an anti-dumping investigation regarding imports of certain woven cotton fabrics originating in Hong Kong.

In May 1990, the Mexican Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development initiated an investigation in response to a petition from Mexican manufacturers alleging that Hong Kong denim was being dumped in Mexico. A final resolution was published in September 1991 imposing a compensatory duty of US$1.00 per standard kilogram of denim imported from Hong Kong. Hong Kong will continue to pursue this case with the Mexican authorities.

In May 1991, the Mexican authorities initiated another anti-dumping investigation against Hong Kong (along with China and the United States) regarding tableware and kitchenware of ceramic, porcelain or china. These products were said to originate in China.

In all these cases the Hong Kong Government has worked closely with the industries alleged to have dumped to ensure that each was given a fair chance to present its case fully and accurately to the investigating authorities, and to see that the principles and provisions of the GATT Anti-dumping Code were adhered to.

Trade Department

The Trade Department is responsible for Hong Kong's commercial relations with foreign governments. It implements trade policy and agreements and procedures for import and

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