Brussels, 08/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - At the end of May, the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) published a working paper on the real impact on trade of the EU anti-dumping policy, which is reputed to be complex and opaque. The paper asks whether anti-dumping duties benefit the whole European economy. The empirical study by Arastou Khatibi shows that anti-dumping protection favours internal EU trade, between globally uncompetitive firms, to the detriment of trade with third countries. Firstly, the increase in European production resulting from the anti-dumping policy is never sufficient to offset the decrease in imports from countries targeted by anti-dumping duties. In the current global climate of economic recession, the EU anti-dumping policy encourages further trade depression. Secondly, the increase in European production is only seen in highly productive and competitive industries. However, anti-dumping action is often instigated by producers struggling to compete in global markets. These inefficient and uncompetitive firms do not show any significant production increases as a result of anti-dumping protection, thereby intensifying the decline in trade. In this way, the study concludes, anti-dumping duties protect a few industries at the expense of the overall domestic market. The EU anti-dumping policy is economically inefficient and the trade contraction that is the result brings with it price increases, potential supply shortages and restrictions of choice for importers, retailers and consumers alike. The study is available at http://www.ecipe.org (E.H./transl.rt)