Patterns and Determinants of Anti-Dumping: A Worldwide Prespective

This paper, Patterns and Determinants of Anti-dumping: A Worldwide Perspective’ is part of the research programme on the WTO-related issues, funded by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. It takes a critical look at the trends in worldwide anti-dumping case filings and measures taken during the last two decades. The author also examines how macro economic factors influence the use of anti-dumping in developed and developing countries. The analysis reinforces the view that the primary jurisdiction for the anti-dumping law is really more political than economic. It is observed that as tariff rates are reduced further, the use of anti-dumping will spread among developing countries not only due to greater liberalisation pressures but also due to the fact that more and more countries would like to create antidumping ability to counter anti-dumping use against them. This may reverse the trade gains that liberalisation may ensure to them. This study argues that further fine-tuning and refining of the anti-dumping policy is not the answer to prevent its (mis)use. It calls for fundamental changes in this law.