Rabat – The World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) will investigate Turkish concerns over anti-dumping duties imposed by Morocco on imports of hot rolled coil (HRC).
After a meeting held last October with the WTO, which did not result to an amicable settlement, Turkey decided to challenge the anti-dumping measures applied by Morocco on steel in the jurisdictional area.
Turkey alleged that the Moroccan measures are inconsistent with a number of procedural and substantive provisions of the WTO’s antidumping agreement.
According to the WTO, Morocco considers that the duties in question are in accordance with its domestic laws and with its WTO commitments, and that it is prepared to defend the consistency of its measures before a panel.
The European Union, China, Egypt and India want to take advantage of the breach opened by Turkey, as they too consider Morocco’s measures incompatible with certain provisions of the WTO. After a consultation phase, Turkey decided to bring the matter before the competent WTO authorities on January 12 to trigger the proper institutional proceedings.
For the second time, Turkey requested the establishment of a panel to examine its complaint. Once again, Turkey insisted that the anti-dumping duties imposed by Morocco on the Turkish steel imports were WTO-inconsistent. Turkey said it had hoped the matter could have been resolved without recourse to a panel, but that it had to protect its rights under the Anti-Dumping Agreement.
In practical terms, the procedure initiated gives the complainant the right to defend the rights or to protect the advantages that accrue to him from the WTO agreement. According to Turkey, Morocco’s anti-dumping duties would be contrary to the GATT, the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.
Meanwhile, Morocco said it regretted Turkey’s request for the panel, stating that it remained to rely on consultations in order to find a mutually acceptable solution to this dispute. Morocco had officially requested the continuation of consultations with Turkey, but did not receive a proposal in response. Morocco said it considered the duties in question to be in accordance with its domestic laws and with its WTO commitments, and that it was prepared to defend the consistency of its measures before a panel.
On a meeting on January 25, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body deferred the start date of the panel under after its members had been established.
