The federal government’s Anti-Dumping Commission has given the go-ahead for temporary tariffs to be applied to some processed tomatoes from Italy after it found evidence they were being sold at 'dumped' prices.
The Commission's preliminary report, which was prepared in response to an application lodged by fruit processor SPC Ardmona in July, also found that these 'dumped' tomatoes had damaged the local industry.
As a result, the Commission has made a preliminary recommendation that duties be imposed temporarily on 'dumped' imported tomatoes from Italy. Additional duties of between six and ten per cent will be applied to some Italian tomato imports at least until the Commission's final recommendations are released in January.
AUSVEG spokesperson Hugh Gurney said the report report vindicated SPC Ardmona's calls for safeguard actions and it also highlighted the need for greater pre-emptive action to prevent dumping before it happens, rather than taking action after the industry has been damaged.
“The dumping of cheaply produced produce, largely from European countries where a number of governmental support mechanisms exist, is rampant in both the processed tomato and potato industry, and it is causing significant damage to Australian processors and growers,” said Gurney.
“The closure of the McCain potato processing plant in Penola last month is just the latest in a spate of closures of Australian vegetable processing plants in the past two years, largely as a result of the flood of imported frozen produce entering our country,” he said.
The Australian Made Campaign also welcomed the preliminary report but said that damage was being done to the local industry, and Australia’s growers, every day until the safeguards were put in place.
“Australia needs to be vigilant about the damage that can be done to Australian processors, and in turn Australian growers, given the time it takes to assess such claims,” Australian Made Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, said.
“There is a strong argument that the onus of proof should be shifted from the claimant to the importer to prove what is being sold has not been dumped, when a reasonable claim is accepted by the Anti-Dumping Commission."
Temporary tariffs are to be applied to some processed tomatoes from Italy.
