./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/ADP/AHG/W/148
25 September 2003
(03-5081)
Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices
Working Group on ImplementationOriginal:  English
ARTICLE 6.7 – CONDUCT OF VERIFICATION
Paper by Australia
As noted in document G/ADP/W/433, it was agreed at the regular meeting of the Working
Group on Implementation of 2 May 2003 on consideration of new topics for discussion and possible
development of an agreed understanding or recommendation on implementation.  Australia submits
the following paper on Australian practice in relation to ADA Article 6.7 (proposal 9 contained in
G/ADP/W/431) as background to discussions.
Proposal 9 of G/ADP/W/431 proposed as follows in relation to Article 6.7 (conduct of
verification): Discuss the implementation of Article 6.7, which provides that authorities may carry out
investigations in other countries as required, provided they obtain the agreement of firms concerned,
and they notify the representatives of the government of the countries in question (unless the latterobject to the investigation).  Address issues such as whether authorities provide verification outlines,
lists of participants, or other preparatory information prior to the verification, and whether the
verification findings are memorialised in written reports or otherwise.
Article 6.7 of the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement provides as follows:
“In order to verify information provided or to obtain further details, the authorities
may carry out investigations in the territory of other Members as required, provided
they obtain the agreement of the firms concerned and notify the representatives of the
government of the Member in question, and unless that Member objects to the
investigation.  The procedures described in Annex I shall apply to investigations
carried out in the territory of other Members.  Subject to the requirement to protectconfidential information, the authorities shall make the results of any such
investigations available, or shall provide disclosure thereof pursuant to paragraph 9,
to the firms to which they pertain and may make such results available to the
applicants.”
Australia’s practice
Australian legislation does not provide guidance on verification techniques.  However,
Australia follows a standard routine in a dumping investigation which is set out in an internal
Administrative Handbook.
A letter, including background information, is sent to all known interested parties advising
them of initiation of the investigation.  This includes importers, exporters, manufacturers, Australian
industry members, the governments of the nominated countries of export or origin, agents thereof, and
trade organisations.G/ADP/AHG/W/148
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Additionally, each known exporter is sent an exporter’s questionnaire, together with a letter
inviting cooperation with the investigation.  The export questionnaire nominates the Case Manager for
each case and provides contact details.  An exporter is requested to contact the case officer if they
have difficulties in providing the information requested or in the format requested.
In some cases where there have been a large number of exporters, consultations have been
held with relevant trade associations to explain the verification process and to seek assistance arriving
at an agreed sample of exporters who should participate in an investigation.  The letter also gives the
purpose of the visit, which is to verify the information provided in response to the questionnaire.
Exporters are advised that they will be asked to substantiate the completeness and accuracy of the
information.  This involves tracing data to management and audited accounts, and to source
documents.
This is followed up when the exporter’s responding questionnaire is examined, with a second
letter that confirms time and venue arrangements, and the names of the visiting officers.  This
information is also conveyed to the government of the country nominated.
The follow-up letter will also provide an agenda that outlines the matters for discussion and
the types of information and documentation required.  It may also suggest the nature of the staff that
need to be present during verification to ensure proper and prompt attention to the issues.  In addition,
it can also identify selected transactions for export to Australia, and domestic sales, as targets for
verification, although Australian Customs advises that additional transactions may be selected for
verification whilst on-site.
The purpose of the verification visit is to verify the information that has been provided in the
exporter questionnaire response, not to obtain further information.  The focus on the visit is therefore
to verify the information that has been provided back to source documents.
Officers who conduct the on-site verification visit, typically of 3 to 4 days including an
inspection of the production, packaging, storage and dispatch processes, stay in the country of export
and prepare what is called a “Normal Value Report”.  This normally takes between 5 to 9 days after
the actual on site visit to prepare.
The report is detailed and discusses all relevant issues.  It sets out the processes followed
when verifying the information provided.  It explains how the normal value and the export price were
assessed, the treatment of adjustments for fair comparison, and the amount of any dumping.
This report is made available to the company and opportunity is provided to company
officials to speak to the report and to provide any clarification or to correct any factual errors.Officers also consult the company about the form of  a non-confidential version of the report and
prepare a non-confidential version prior to leaving the country of export.  The non-confidential
version is placed on the public file.
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