Brussels, 22/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The latest World Trade Organisation (WTO) half-yearly anti-dumping report confirms the trend noted in the second half of 2007 (see EUROPE 9704): Asian countries, in particular China, are still at the top of the list of fresh investigations and new measures adopted by other WTO member countries in the first six months of 2008. With 37 investigations into its exports (21 in the corresponding period last year), China had more new investigations opened against it than any other country. It was followed by Thailand (7 investigations), the US and Indonesia (5 each), South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan (4 each) and Vietnam (3). In all, 16 countries launched 85 investigations in the first half of 2008 (compared with 61 in the first six months of 2007). Turkey opened 13 investigations, more than any other country. Then came the United States (12), India (11), Argentina and the EU (10 each). Base metals was the sector where there were most investigations, with 21 new procedures launched, followed by textiles (20), and chemical products (10). Of the 21 fresh base metal investigations, seven were notified by the EU and six by the United States. With most new investigations opened against them, Chinese exports were also the target of the largest number of anti-dumping measures by other member countries. 13 anti-dumping measures were put in place against China, out of the total number of 54 notified to the WTO (this figure is, however, nine fewer than over the same period last year). Thereafter came Taiwan, with six new measures against its exports, then the EU, South Korea, the United States and Russia (four each). In total, 12 countries applied 54 new final anti-dumping measures in the first six months of 2008, compared with 51 measures over the same period in 2007. India notified the largest number (16, almost twice as many in the first half of 2006), then the EU (8) and Indonesia (5). By sector, chemical products were most targeted, with 16 new measures, ahead of base metals (14) and plastics (13). Of the 16 new measures relating to chemical products, India applied six, China four and the EU two. (E.H./transl.rt)