Posted on 03 Jun 2015
Vietnam challenges Indonesia for imposing ‘safeguard’ measures on steel products
Vietnam has initiated new dispute proceedings against Indonesia
with the World Trade Organization regarding Indonesia’s imposition of
“safeguard” tariffs on steel products imported from Vietnam.
Vietnam notified the WTO Secretariat of the case on Monday, the WTO said in a statement.
According to Vietnam’s complaint, Indonesia used emergency
"safeguard" tariffs on imports of flat rolled products of iron or
non-alloy steel.
Safeguard tariffs can be imposed temporarily to protect a nation's
producers against a sudden and damaging surge of imports, Reuters
reported.
By launching the complaint, Vietnam has triggered a 60-day period
for Indonesia to settle the matter. After that Vietnam could ask the WTO
to adjudicate, according to Reuters.
On July 7, 2014, the Indonesian government issued a three-year
anti-dumping duty on flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel
imported from Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea. Accordingly, the products
face tariffs at 50 percent in 2014, 46 percent in 2015 and 41 percent
in 2016.
