The Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) has ruled that aluminum coils and circles from China are being dumped unto the Ghanaian domestic market, causing material injury and a threat of material injury to the Ghanaian industry, ghanabusinessnews stated.
Aluworks company, a Tema-based company petitioned the government of Ghana over what it termed as unfair trade practices by its Chinese competitors. They cited dumping, price undercutting, trade-in cheap products, among others, in its petition.
According to ghanabusinessnews, Professor Paul Kuruk, Vice – Chairman of GITC, on Thursday ruled on petition No.ADR-GITC/001/209 brought by Aluworks limited. Calculations by the commission indicate weighted average dumping for the subject product.
The commission also decided that anti-dumping duties should be imposed on Aluminum coils and circles originating in or imported from China’s coeds 7606.91.10.00 aluminum plates, sheets, and a strip of thickness exceeding 0.2mm.
Executive Secretary of the commission, Frank Agyekum, in a statement made to Joy Business said that the rulings seek to provide a level playing field for investors who seek to enter the Ghanaian industrial sector. He also added that it means products that are coming in are going to be charged in conformity with the world standard. Mr. Agyekum stressed the fact that one can import into Ghana without importing at a cheaper rate to make Ghana’s industries collapse.
The investigation into the petition was conducted within the GITC framework ACT 2016, Act 926, and GITC Anti – Dumping regulations (LI2830) read with the World Trade Organization agreement on implementation article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1994 (the Anti – Dumping agreement).
According to Professor Kuruk, the investigation began after there was evidence that aluminum coils were imported at a dumped price and caused material injury threat to Ghana’s domestic industry.
Under section 54 of the GITC Act 2016 (ACT926), dumping means the introduction of a product into the commerce of Ghana at less than its normal value in the ordinary course of trade for the like product when destined for consumption in the exporting country. Professor Kuruk stated that the injury analysis involved data for the period of January 2014 to December 2018.
After observation, the commission concluded that aluminum coils were dumped onto the Ghanaian market causing material injury and a threat of material injury to the Ghanaian industry.
Managing Director, Mr. Ernest Kwasi Okoh, of Aluworks Ltd described the ruling as a huge relief for them because their quality was now going to be recognized.
Is this a step to strengthen Ghanaian industries or an attack on China?
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