The entry into force on Wednesday 20 December of a new EU methodology for calculating anti-dumping taxes, adopted officially by the Council and the European Parliament on 13 December (see EUROPE 11918), was accompanied by publication by the Commission of an initial report on distortions of trade by serious state interference in the form of a country report on China, which is the country most subject to anti-dumping measures (22 investigations in total) by the EU.
The report factually describes aspects of the Chinese economy, the country’s macro economy, major production factors used in manufacturing (labour, energy etc) and specific sectors of the Chinese economy, including steel and ceramics.
Other reports will be drawn up on specific issues – the country’s relative importance in the EU's anti-dumping measures and the existence of indices on distortions due to state intervention in the economy. The next country report will be on Russia. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)