RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
G/SCM/Q1/THA/9
ORGANIZATION 14October 1997
(97-4433)
Original: English Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures
NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS UNDER
ARTICLES 18.5AND 32.6OFTHE AGREEMENTS
Replies ofTHAILAND1
toQuestions from CANADA2,theEUROPEAN COMMUNITY3,HONG KONG, CHINA4,
KOREA5,POLAND6,TURKEY7andtheUNITED STATES8
Thefollowing communication, dated 2October 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofThailand.
_______________
GENERAL
Question (Poland 1)
Willallanti-dumping investigations initiated under theprevious Thaidomestic legislation
andstillbeing underway bepassed onunder thenewWTO-consistent jurisdiction assoonasit
enters intoforce inThailand?
Response
Yes. Article 18oftheNotification oftheMinistry ofCommerce ontheImposition of
Anti-Dumping andCountervailing Duties 1996 (B.E. 2539) states asfollows:
“Article 18Provisional Terms
ThisNotification shallapply toallthepetitions which werefiledunder theNotification
oftheMinistry ofCommerce Regarding Rules andProcedures ontheImposition ofSpecial
Duties onDumped andSubsidized Imports, 1991 (B.E. 2534) buthasnotbeenfinalized. ”
Therefore, allon-going A-Dinvestigations initiated under theprevious Thaidomestic legislation
andstillunderway shallbeconducted pursuant tothenewNotification, 1996 (B.E. 2539).
1G/ADP/N/1/THA/3-G/SCM/N/1/THA/3.
2G/ADP/Q1/THA/2-G/S CM/Q1/THA/2,3G/ADP/Q1/THA/3-G/S CM/Q1/THA/3 &G/ADP/Q1/THA/8-G/S CM/Q1/THA/8,
4G/ADP/Q1/THA/6-G/SCM/Q1/THA/65G/ADP/Q1/THA/7-G/SCM/Q1/THA/7,6G/ADP/Q1/THA/1-G/SCM/Q1/THA/1,
7G/ADP/Q1/THA/4-G/SCM/Q1/THA/4,8G/ADP/Q1/THA/5-G/SCM/Q1/THA/5.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Question (Turkey 7)
Could youplease provide information onThailand ’spolicy andlawfortheimplementation
ofWTO Panel Reports?
Question (Canada 2)
Could Thailand explain howitwould implement adecision ofaWTO Dispute Settlement
Body Panel, should suchcircumstances arise? What specific provisions inthedomestic lawwould
allow fortheimplementation ofsuchapanel report orwould theexisting lawhavetobeamended?
Response
Panel decisions relevant toaparticular proceeding mayreadily beimplemented bytheMinistry
without theneedtoamend Thailaworrules.
Question (HKG 6)
Have anyprovisions been made under Articles 6.6,9.3and10.2? Ifyes,would theybe
notified inaccordance withArticle 18.5oftheAgreement?
Question (Canada 4)
Inseveral places intheThai law,rules andprocedures are(willbe?)prescribed bythe
Department ofForeign Trade. Could Thailand provide copies ofthese rules andprocedures as
referred toinArticles 5.1,5.3,6.6,10.2, 10.6and14.3?
Response
Atpresent, theDepartment hasnotissued rules under allofthereferenced Articles. Inany
respect, allrules andprocedures shallbeissued incompliance totheAgreement.
Question (EC2)
Could Thailand provide details ofitsrules andprocedures onsampling, which maybe
usedinthedetermination ofdumping margin?
Response
Withrespect toArticle 6.6,thereisnoministerial ordepartmental notification which provides
specific guidelines forthepurpose ofsampling. Decisions onappropriate sampling necessarily must
varyonacasebycasebasis, depending onthefactsofaparticular case. TheDepartment intends to
takeareasonable approach whenever circumstances warrant sampling andshallabide byArticle 6.10
oftheWTO Agreement inallofitsinvestigations should theneedforsampling arise.
Question (HKG 1)
What isthelegal status oftheNotification ontheImposition Anti-Dumping and
Countervailing Duties B.E. 2539?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Question (Turkey 1)
What isthelegalstatus oftheWTO Agreement? Doesithavetheforce oflawinThailand?
Ifthedomestic legislation isinconflict withtheAgreement, which willtaketheprecedence?
Response
TheWTO A-DAgreement istheinternational commitment ofThailand which Thailand, as
astate, must beresponsible.
Thailand shalldotoitutmost efforts tocomply withitsinternational commitments, andshall
tryasmuch aspossible tobring itsowndomestic legislation intoconformity.
Question (US1)
TheNotification submitted bytheGovernment ofThailand issilent onmany ofthespecific
requirements contained intheAgreements. Isitcorrect toassume thatwherever thedocument
issilent onanissue covered bytheAgreements, theAgreements willprevail? What legal
mechanisms within Thailand willinsure suchconformity?
Question (Korea 4(a))
TheA-Dregulations ofThailand asawhole seems tobelacking inmany areas compared
withtheWTO A-DAgreement, Auspiciously, thefollowing issues seem toleave ample room for
arbitrary interpretation:
-start-up costadjustment
-sampling
-deminimis margin/negligible volume
How willThai authorities dealwithsuchissues?
Question (HKG 9(a))
Numerous provision oftheAgreement arenotfeature intheNotification ofthecodification
maynotbeadequate. Notable example areasfollows:
Start-up cost(Article 2.2.1)
Administrative, selling andgeneral costs (Article 2.2.2)
Exchange rates (Article 2.4.1)
confidential information (Article 6.5)
Procedures foron-site verification(Article 6.7andAnnex I)
Refund procedures (Article 9.3.2)
Procedures regarding useofthebestinformation available (Annex II)
(a) Intheabsence ofexplicit domestic provisions reflecting theabove Agreement
provisions, howwillThailand ensure compliance withtheAgreement?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Response
Thepurpose ofthepresent Ministerial Notification istotemporary providing means forthe
implementation oftheA-DAgreement inThailand. Itisinnowaytocover allthespecific details,
however, itshould benoted thattheAnti-Dumping andCountervailing Duty Actisinaprocess of
drafting. ThisActwillbeinfullcompliance totheletter oftheAgreement.
Intheinterim, theThai Authorities implementing theNotification arefully aware of
requirements under theWTO Agreement andintend tomaintain afullcompliance withallsuch
requirements.
Question (Korea 1)
DoesThailand plantoenact anewsetoflawsthatwillbemore compatible withtheWTO
A-DAgreement?
Question (HKG 9(b))
WillThailand contemplate further steps toensure theconformity ofitslegislation and
administrative procedures withtheprovisions oftheAgreement inaccordance withArticle 18.4?
Response
Asnoted above, Thailand expects topassanAnti-Dumping Act. Itisalsopossible thatthe
ThaiAuthorities willpublish further Departmental Notification oramendment totheMinisterial
Notification, totheextent itdeems necessary andappropriate, inkeeping withtherequirements of
theA-DAgreement.
Question (Korea 4(b))
DoestheThaiauthority disregard anyzeroordeminimis margin andthebestinformation
available forthepurpose ofestablishing theweighted average dumping margin fortheexporters
orproducers notincluded inthesample ?
Response
TheThaiauthoritiesstrenuouslydisagreewiththesuggestionthattheNotification“auspiciously”
leavesroomfor“arbitrary”interpretation.Atpresent,thereisnoministerialordepartmentalnotification
which provides specific guidelines forthepurpose ofsampling. Decisions onappropriate sampling
necessarily must varyonacasebycasebasis, depending onthefacts ofaparticular case. The
Department intends totakeareasonable approach whenever circumstances warrant sampling andshall
abide byArticle 6.10oftheWTO Agreement inallofitsinvestigations should theneedforsampling
arise.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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JURIDICAL REVIEW
Question (US18)
Underwhatmechanismmaycountervailingdutyoranti-dumpingdutyordersbechallenged
independently, andaresuchprovisions forreview consistent withSCM Agreement Article 23
andA-DAgreement Article 13?
Question (US21)
Under what provisions oflawinThailand isjudicial review ofanti-dumping measures
provided for,asrequired byArticle 13oftheAgreement?
Question (Turkey 6)
There isnoprovision about “judicial review ”inThailand ’slegislation. Could Thailand
clarify howsheinterprets Article 13oftheA-DAgreement, inthisrespect?
Question (Canada 1)
There appears tobenospecific provision inrespect ofdomestic judicial review asrequired
byArticle 13oftheAgreement ontheImplementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral Agreement
onTariffs andTrade 1994 (theA-DAgreement). Could Thailand explain ifandhowits
procedures fordomestic judicial review willoperate inrespect ofitsanti-dumping lawand
anti-dumping decisions?
Response
Thepresent anti-dumping legislation ofThailand isaMinisterial Notification, subject to
governing laws.
Evidence
Question (Canada 3)
Does Thailand anticipate theprovision ofhearings, bothpublic andincamera ,toallow
interested parties topresent evidence andcross examine evidence provided byother parties?
Does Thailand envision anyprocess thatwould involve interested parties presenting witnesses
togiveevidence?
Response
Theinvestigating authorities inThailand provide forhearings anddisclosure according to
Article 5.2oftheNotification. TheDepartment ofForeign Trade gives opportunities forhearings
bothpublic hearings anddisclosure hearings. Apublic hearing isdesigned forparties withopposing
views topresent theirviewpoints inaccordance withtheA-DAgreement. Adisclosure hearing, held
incamera witheachparty requesting it,isalsoavailable. Inon-going investigations, bothpublic
hearings anddisclosure hearings havebeenheld.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Page6
Atpresent, interested parties andtheirlegalcounsel arenormally present atahearing. Should
anyinterested party wishtopresent witnesses togiveevidence intheircause, there isnoobjection
fromtheinvestigating authorities. Itshould benoted, however, thatsuchrequest isyettobemade.
Question (US14)
Article 9.4oftheNotification provides forverification ofevidence inanantidumping
proceeding. What specific procedures willbefollowed inverifying such evidence? Will
verification beconducted incountervailing dutyproceedings?
Response
Verification maybeconducted inCVD proceedings under Article 16.7ofthenotification.
Itismentioned thatallprocedures applicable toA-Dproceedings arealsoapplicable toCVD
proceedings. TheThaiAuthorities willconduct theverification asspecified inAnnex IoftheA-D
Agreement andVIoftheSCM Agreement.
Injury
Question (Canada 5)
Article 3.5oftheA-DAgreement requires anexamination ofanyknown factors other
thandumped imports which areatthesame timeinjuring thedomestic industry andinjury caused
bysuchother factors must notbeattributed todumped imports. Could Thailand indicate where
thisA-DAgreement obligation islocated initslawandhowwillitbecarried outinThai
anti-dumping investigations?
Response
ThisA-DAgreement obligation islocated inArticle 7.3oftheNotification. Ifapplicable,
factors other thandumped imports which mayresult ininjury incurred bythedomestic industry shall
beanalysed bytheDepartment ofInternal Trade andtheCommittee onDumping andSubsidies.
Theauthority andduties oftheCommittee arespecified inArticle 17oftheNotification.
Question (US10)
Article 7.2(1) oftheNotification specifies theCommittee shall examine thevolume of
imported products andtheeffect onprices ofdomestic likeproducts without specifying that
theCommittee must consider whether anyincreases involume ofimported products are
“significant, ”whether anyprice undercutting is“significant, ”whether prices aredepressed
toa“significant degree. ”orwhether imports prevent price increases “toasignificant degree. ”
which arerequired byArticle 3.2oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 15.2oftheSCM Agreement.
How doesArticle 7.2(1) include these requirements oftheA-DandSCM Agreements?
Response
Although Article 7.2(1)ofthenotification doesnotenumerate alltherequirements setforth
inArticle 3.2oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 15.2oftheSCM Agreement, theThaiAuthorities
willusetheseWTOprovisionsasaguidelinewhenconsideringwhethertomakeaninjurydetermination
under Article 7.2(1)ofthenotification.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Question (US11)
What economic factors orindices willtheCommittee evaluate under Article 7.2(2) of
theregulations inexamining theeffects oftheimported products onproducers oflikeproducts
inThailand, andhowissuch anevaluation orexamination consistent withArticle 3.4ofthe
A-DAgreement andArticle 15.4oftheSCM Agreement?
Question (US12)
There isnorequirement intheNotification forconsideration ofthemagnitude ofthe
dumping margin inassessing material injury. Howisthisconsistent withArticle 3.4oftheA-D
Agreement?
Response
Inmaking adetermination under Article 7.2(2) ofthenotification, theThaiauthorities will
abide byArticle 3.4oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 15.4oftheSCM Agreement.
Question (US13)
Isthere aprovision inThailand ’slawconsistent withArticle 3.6oftheA-DAgreement
andArticle 15.6oftheSCM Agreement regarding examination ofproduction dataonthebasis
oflikeproduct orthenarrowest group ofrange ofproducts?
Response
Although, thenotification doesnotexpressly setforth basis forsuchexamination, Article
3.6and15.6shallserve asguideline.
Question (US20)
TheNotification doesnotappear toimplement therequirement intheSCM Agreement,
when determining whether subsidized imports poseathreat ofmaterial injury, thatthenature
ofthesubsidies beconsidered. How isthisconsistent withArt.15.7oftheSCM Agreement?
Response
Notexpressly addressed inNotification. However, indetermination ofinjury, Thaiauthorities
willstrictly maintain compliance withArticle 15.7.
Public Notice
Question (US15)
A-DAgreement Articles 12.2.1(v) and12.2.2 andSCM Agreement Articles 22.4(v) and
22.5require disclosure of“themain reasons leading todetermination ”and“thereasons for
theacceptance orrejection ofrelevant arguments orclaims made .....”How willthese
requirements besatisfied?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Question (US16)
PleaseindicatewhethertheActimplementsthepublicnoticeandexplanationrequirements
ofArticle 12oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 22oftheSCM Agreement.
Question (Canada 6)
Article 12oftheA-DAgreement speaks totheissue ofpublic notice andtheexplanation
ofthedeterminations. Could Thailand explain howitsanti-dumping lawwillcomply withthese
detailed requirements?
Response
Article 12andArticle 22mention notonlypublic notice andexplanation ofdeterminations
butalsothepublic notice andexplanations oftheinitiation ofA-DandCVD cases. Inthisregard,
attention should bedrawn toArticle 11.1oftheNotification, which details theinformation tobe
specified innotices. Although thisprovision references onlyinitiation, itisthepolicy oftheDepartment
ofForeign Trade topublish thenotice ofdetermination inthesamemanner, andincluding thereasons
foracceptance orrejection ofrelevant arguments. TheThaiauthorities havecomplied fullywiththese
requirements inallofphases oftheinvestigations initiated, bothinitiations anddeterminations. All
parties toaninvestigation areproperly notified inwriting withcopies ofsuchout-going notices kept
inthefilesofeachproceeding.
Question (HKG 7)
Willalltheinformation stipulated inArticle 12.1.1 oftheAgreement bepublished in
theinitiation notice? Willthegovernment oftheexporting member benotified oftheinitiation?
Response
Pursuant toArticle 11.1ofheNotification, thepublic notice ofinitiation willcontain the
information stipulated inArticle 12.1.1 oftheAgreement. Particular reference ismade toitems (3)-(6)
ofparagraph 3ofArticle 11.1oftheNotification. Although notexplicitly referred toinparagraph 4
oftheArticle 11.1oftheNotification, thecurrent practice oftheThaiAuthorities istonotice the
government oftheexporting Member afterthereceipt ofaproperly documented complaint prior to
theinitiation.
Determination ofDumping
Question (Canada 7)
Article 4defines “subject goods ”inrelation togoods “which arealleged tobedumped
orsubsidized ”.“likegoods ”isalsoidentified inArticle 4inrelation to“subject goods ”.Once
aninjury finding isinplace, however, products thatwere allegedly dumped andtherefore the
subject oftheoriginal investigation arenormally considered tobedefinitively dumped. Therefore,
once afinal finding ofdumping andinjury isinplace, itwould appear thatthedefinition of
“subject goods ”isnolonger operative. Could Thailand indicate whether thisisacorrect
interpretation oftheir anti-dumping law? Ifnot,could Thailand please clarify themeaning of
“subject goods ”following afinal determination ofdumping andinjury?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Response
TheEnglish translation oftheterm“subject goods ”should beinterpreted toapply toproducts
subject toinvestigation aswellasthose subject todefinitive A-Dmeasures.
Question (Canada 9)
Could Thailand indicate what factors might beconsidered inthecontext ofdifferences
which might affect price comparability (first paragraph, Article 6.6)?
Response
Factors which might affect price comparability varyaccording tothesubject goods andthe
industry producing them, buttheDepartment ofForeign Trade takes intoaccount allofthefactors
inArticle 2.4oftheAgreement. Inthestandard exporter ’sQuestionnaire issued bytheDepartment
inA-Dcases, respondents areinvited topropose “allowances ”which theyviewasapplicable tothe
merchandise inquestion. From theon-going cases, several types ofadjustments havebeenrequested.
These include differences inmovement expenses, selling expenses, production processes, costs
adjustmentinvariousmanners,anddifferentproductlines(closelylinkedwiththeissueoflikeproduct).
TheDepartment gives dueconsideration tosuchadjustments requested byexporters forthepurpose
ofcalculation prior toverification.
Question (EC1)
WhydoesArticle 6.3(2) oftheNotification, oncalculation ofnormal value based oncost
ofproduction, contain none ofthecomprehensive language oncostallocation assetoutin
Article 2.2.1.1 oftheWTO Agreement?
Response
Anotification isdesigned toprovide guiding principles toimplementation ofA-Dlegislation.
Attimes, itmaynotbepossible toidentify inthenotification allaspects oftheactual practise. It
istheintention ofThailand tomaintain compliance onthisandanyother WTO issue inoneofthe
threemanners: ministerial notification level, departmental level, andactual practice level. More details
canbeissued, totheextent necessary, atthedepartmental levelorpractice level.
TheThaiAuthorities intend tomaintain fullcompliance withArticle 2.2.1.1 oftheWTO
Agreement onallinvestigations.
Question (HKG 3)
How would Thailand interpret “extended period oftime”and“substantial Quantities ”
inArticle 6.3oftheNotification?
Question (Turkey 2)
Could Thailand clarify howtheydetermine “theextended period oftimeandsubstantial
quantities ”?Willthefootnotes 4and5oftheA-DAgreement betaken intoconsideration in
thisdetermination?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Question (Korea 2)
What isthedefinition ofthe“extended period oftime”and“substantial quantities ”in
Article 6.3?HowcanThaiauthorities judge thatcertain salesaremade within anextended period
oftimeinsubstantial quantities?
Question (US4)
Article 6.3ortheNotification provides forexclusion ofbelow costsalesifitisdetermined
thatsuch sales aremade within anextended period oftimeinsubstantial quantities andare
atprices which donotpermit recovery ofcosts within areasonable period oftime. What time
period willbeusedtodetermine whether sales aremade “within anextended period oftime? ”
What portion ofsales willconstitute “substantial quantities: ”
Response
TheThaiAuthorities intend tousefootnotes 4and5oftheA-DAgreement asguidelines
ininterpreting theterms “extended period oftime”and“substantial quantities ”.
Question (US5)
Article 6.6oftheNotification includes aprovision thatpermits departure fromthenormal
average-to-average price comparisons foranti-dumping purposes when thenormal comparison
method would notreflect thefullamount ofthedumping. Nosuchstandard iscontained in
Article 2.4.2 oftheAgreement, dealing withthissubject. How, andunder whatstandards, would
itbedetermined thatnormal comparison methods would notaccurately reflect thefullamount
ofanydumping?
Question (HKG 4)
Would Thailand explain what other methods canbeusedapart from thethree methods
prescribed inArticle 6.6?Would Thailand alsoclarify under what circumstances would they
consider aweighted-average-to-weighted-average ortransaction-to-transaction comparison would
notreflect thefulldegree ofdumping?
Response
ItistheintentionofThaiAuthoritiestouseweightedaveragetoweightedaverageortransaction
totransaction comparison innormal cases. Inunusual circumstances, suchcomparison maynotbe
appropriated. Forexample, ifexporter prices varysignificantly bypurchaser, region ortimeperiod,
andthere isevidence ofstrategic ortargeted company ofparticular salesorgroups ofsalessuchthat
thenormal methods willnotreflect degree ofdumping, wemayuseaverage normal value toexport
transaction comparison. Other thanthese three comparison methods, Thaipractice todatehasnot
identified anyother methods forcomparison.
Question (Korea 3)
Article 6.3(2) ofthenotification oftheThailand stipulates that”...thenormal value
shall bedetermined ...(2)onthebasis ofthecostofproduction inthecountry oforigin plus
areasonable amount foradministrative, selling andgeneral costs andforprofits ”G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Page11
However, thenotification ofThailand doesnotspecify thebasis ofdetermination for
thereasonable amount ofSG&A andprofits. HowwilltheThaiauthorities determine ”reasonable
amounts: ”forSG&A andprofit?
Question (US2)
Article 6.3oftheNotification provides forexclusion ofbelow costsales forpurposes of
determining normal value. Onwhat basis willaproducer ’s/exporter ’scosts becalculated?
Response
ItistheThaiAuthorities intention andpractice thatproducer/exporter costsareexpense will
becalculated incompliance withtheprovisions ofArticle 2.2.1 and2.2.2 oftheA-DAgreement.
Question (US3)
Article 6.3(2)oftheNotification provides forcalculation ofconstructed value based upon
costofproduction andareasonable amount foradministrative, selling, andgeneral costs and
forprofits. Onwhat basis willsuchexpenses becalculated?
Response
Asnoted inresponse toUSquestion 2,Articles 2.2.1 and2.2.2 shallserve asthebasis for
thecosts, expenses andprofit referred inArticle 6.3oftheNotification.
Interested Party
Question (HKG 2)
How would Thailand provide opportunities forindustrial users andrepresentative
consumer organizations tosubmit relevant information?
Question (Canada 8)
Thedefinition of“Interested Party ”inArticle 4doesnotinclude industrial users and
representatives ofconsumer organizations. Does Thailand intend toinclude suchgroups inthe
context of“anyperson orparty which maybeprescribed bytheMinister ofCommerce asan
interested party ”?Ifnot,howwould suchgroups haveaccess totheThaianti-dumping process
toprovide information relevant totheissues ofdumping, injury andcausality ascontemplated
byArticle 6.12oftheAgreement?
Response
Industrial users mayappear asinterested parties andprovide relevant information inThai
A-Dproceedings. Totheextent theyarenotcovered byArticle 4paragraph 5(1)or5(3),they
arecovered in5(4).Industrial usersandconsumers areaccorded particular concern bytheCommittee.
Infact,adutydrawback provision hasbeenprovided todownstream industry whoutilizes some of
thedumped imports asrawmaterial. Further, inanon-going proceeding, theA-Ddutyhadbeen
reduced duetoconsideration regarding industrial users. Therefore, theinterest ofindustrial users
andconsumers arealready welladdressed bythecurrent A-Dlegislature.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Page12
Thisissueisnotlightly dealtwithbytheThaiauthorities. Atpresent, theDepartment isalready
contemplating apossibility offorming adhocworking groups toanalyse theeffect ofanti-dumping
cases onindividual commodity basiswithparticular emphasis ondownstream users andconsumers.
Question (US17)
What legalmechanisms willbeadopted toprovide interested parties withanopportunity
topresent evidence andlegal arguments during thecourses ofaninvestigation orreview?
Response
Inaddition totheservice ofquestionnaires seeking factual information, itisthepractice of
theThaiAuthorities thatinterested parties willbeprovided withopportunity topresent written views
prior totheholding ofahearing. Further, TheDepartment ofForeign Trade gives opportunities
forhearings bothpublic hearings anddisclosure hearings. Apublic hearing isdesigned forparties
withopposing views topresent theirviewpoints inaccordance withtheA-DAgreement. Adisclosure
hearing, heldincamera witheachparty requesting it,isalsoavailable. Inon-going investigations,
bothpublichearingsanddisclosurehearingshavebeenheld.Articles6.2and6.9oftheA-DAgreement
willserve asguideline inproviding theabove-referenced opportunities.
Deminimis andNegligibility
Question (Canada 10)
Article 9.3indicates thattheterm “deminimis ”inrespect ofthemargin ofdumping
and“negligible ”inrespect ofthevolume ofdumped goods areprescribed bytheDepartment
ofForeign Trade. Could Thailand indicate what theprescribed values areandexplain, ifany,
thedifference between these rates andthevalues stated inArticle 5.8oftheA-DAgreement?
Question (Korea 4(c))
Dothedeminimis dumping margins andnegligible imports prescribed bytheDepartment
ofForeign Trade asstipulated inArticle 9.3ofthenotification oftheThailand conform tothe
WTO A-DAgreement?
Question (Turkey 3)
Could Thailand clarify howtheDepartment ofForeign Trade determines thatdumping
margin isdeminimis anddumped imports arenegligible?
Question (US7)
Article 9.3oftheNotification states thatanantidumping proceeding willbeterminated
ifthedumping margin isdeminimis orthevolume ofimports negligible “asproscribed bythe
Department ofForeign Trade. ”Where istherequirement thattheDepartment ofForeign Trade
apply thestandards foridentifying deminimis dumping margins andnegligible import volumes
contained inArticle 5.8oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 11.9oftheSCM Agreement?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Page13
Response
According totheMinistry ofCommerce Notification, theratesfordeminimis andnegligible
areexactly asprescribed inArticle 5.8oftheAgreement.
Initiation
Question (Canada 11)
Article 10:Does Thailand intend togivenotice ofacomplaint tothegovernment of
thecountry ofexport ascontemplated byArticle 5.5oftheA-DAgreement?
Response
TheThai investigating authorities ’practice istogivenotice ofareceipt ofaproperly
documented complaint totheMember government ofthecountry ofexport asprescribed inArticle
5.5oftheA-DAgreement. TheThaiinvestigating authorities intend tocontinue thispractice.
Imposition ofAnti-Dumping Duties
Question (Canada 12)
Article 14addresses, inpart, thereturn ofduties. Where duties arereturn, willinterest
bepaidbytheThai government?
Response
There isnoprovision intheA-DAgreement providing fortheinvestigating Members topay
interest upon therefund ofduties. When duties arerefunded, interest shallnotbepaidbytheThai
Government. Incompliance withprocess ofdutyrefund asprescribed bytheMinistry ofFinance
ofThailand andaspractice bytheRoyal ThaiCustoms, interest isnotpaidbytheThaiGovernment.
TheDepartment ofForeign Trade willcomply withthisestablished practice.
Question (Canada 13)
Article 14.1oftheThai anti-dumping lawindicates thatanti-dumping duties aretobe
collected from theexporter. How istheexporter tobeidentified fordutyliability purposes?
Response
Thisprovision oftheNotification should beinterpreted tomean thatthecollection ofduties
should beatexporter-specific ratesasthese aresetforth intheDepartment ’sdeterminations. All
collection ofA-Dduties, ofcourse, willbefromtheimporters, butattherateapplicable toexporters
ofsuchproducts.
Question (EC3)
Willthe“lesser duty”examination referred toinArticle 12.2(3) ofthenotification be
carried outsystematically, oristheuseofthisprovision likely tobelimited?G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
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Page14
Response
TheThaiAuthorities fullysupport theapplication ofthelesser dutyrule. Itistheintention
oftheThaiAuthorities tocarry outthelesser dutyexamination referred toinArticle 12.2(3) ofthe
notification asexpansively aspossible. Itmaynotbepossible, however, toconduct theexamination
inevery case.
Question (HKG 5)
Does theconstitutional lawofThailand permit thelevying ofanti-dumping duties ina
certain area?
Question (Turkey 4)
Article 8paragraph 5(p.6) ofThailand ’slegislation states that“Inthecasewhere the
territory ofThailand isdivided intotwoormore competitive markets pursuant to(2)above,
injury maybefound toexistevenwhere amajor portion ofthetotaldomestic industry isnot
injured. Insuch circumstances, anti-dumping surcharges onsuch abasis ortheadequate
assurances under Article 13.2have notbeen given promptly, anti-dumping surcharge maybe
levied onallthedumped products imported intoThailand. ”
According totheArticle 4.2oftheA-DAgreement, doesconstitutional lawofThailand
permit levying anti-dumping duties tothespecified area?Ifnot,could Thailand authorities
explainhowtheyinterpretthenecessaryrequirementsstressedinArticle4.2oftheA-DAgreement
inorder tolevyanti-dumping duties without limitation ?
Question (US9)
Article 8oftheNotification provides that, incases inwhich thedomestic industry has
beenidentified onthebasis ofanisolated market within theterritory ofThailand, anti-dumping
duties maybelevied onalldumped products imported intoThailand where itisnotpracticable
tolevyduties solely onmerchandise consigned forfinal consumption intheisolated market,
orwhere adequate assurances pursuant toanundertaking havenotbeengiven promptly. How
isthisconsistent withArticle 4.2oftheA-DAgreement which states thatinsuch acasethe
importing country maylevyduties without limitation onwhere; (1)application ofduties only
toimports destined fortheareaisprohibited byconstitutional law,(2)theexporters havebeen
given theopportunity tocease dumped exports totheareaunder anundertaking andhavenot
provided prompt andadequate assurances and (3)duties cannot belevied onlyonspecific
producers supplying thearea inquestion? Does Article 8oftheNotification alsoapply to
countervailing duties, aswellasantidumping duties, andinamanner consistent withArticle 16.5
oftheSCM Agreement?
Response
With regard totheArticle 4.2oftheA-DAgreement, constitutional lawofThailand does
notpermit levying anti-dumping duties tothedumped products consigned forfinalconsumption to
thespecified area.Asspecified inArticle 4.2,Thailand willimpose measures without limitation where
acceptable assurances under Article 8oftheAgreement havenotbeenreceived, aswhere itisnot
tolevyduties relyonspecific procedures supplying thespecified area.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
G/SCM/Q1/THA/9
Page15
Period ofInvestigation andReview
Question (EC4)
Article 15.2 ofthenotification clearly setsouttheoneyear time limit forreview
investigations. Isthere asimilar stipulation toconform withtheWTO Agreement ontimelimits
forthecompletion ofnewinvestigations?
Question (US6)
HowdoestheActimplement therequirement ofArticle 5.10oftheA-DAgreement and
11.11 oftheSCM Agreement., which provide thatabsent special circumstances investigations
shall becompleted within oneyear, andinnocasemore than eighteen months, after their
initiation?
Response
IntheNotification, there isnosimilar stipulation assuch. However, inactual practise, the
investigating authority intends tocomply withthe12month limitation innormal circumstances. In
complex cases, the18month limitation isapplicable.
Undertaking
Question (HKG 8)
Would undertakings beaccepted onlyafter theCommittee onDumping andSubsidy
hasmade apreliminary affirmative determination? Would undertakings besought before that?
Response
TheThaiAuthorities wishtoclarify that,incompliance withtheArticle 8.2oftheAgreement,
undertaking willnotbesought oraccepted untilafteranaffirmative preliminary determination.
Retroactivity
Question (Turkey 5)
Article 10.8oftheA-DAgreement states that“Noduties shall belevied retroactively
pursuant toparagraph 6onproducts entered forconsumption prior tothedateofinitiation
oftheinvestigation. ”
Since there isnoprovision inThailand ’slegislation ontheabove-mentioned article, could
Thailand clarify howtheyinterpret Article 10oftheA-DAgreement?
Response
Thailand interprets theabove-mentioned article tomean thatshould itbecome necessary to
retroactively impose A-Dduties when thereisasurge ofdumped imports, suchretroactivity canonly
beapplied uptothedateofinitiation oftheproceeding consistent withArticles 10.6and10.7ofthe
Agreement. A-Dduties cannot beapplied toanyimports prior tothedateofinitiation.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
G/SCM/Q1/THA/9
Page16
Definition ofIndustry
Question (US8)
Article 8(2)oftheNotification permits producers in“twoormore competitive markers ”
tobeconsidered separate domestic industries under certain circumstances. Inwhat waydoes
theNotification address therequirements ofArticle 4.1(ii) oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 16.2
oftheSCM Agreement thatthere be“aconcentration ”ofdumped orsubsidized imports into
suchanisolated market andthatthese imports be“causing injury totheproducers ofallor
almost alloftheproduction within suchmarket ”before anaffirmative determination ofmaterial
injury canbemade?
Response
While theNotification doesnotspecifically enumerate therequirement forfinding injury to
aseparate domestic market, itistheintention oftheThaiAuthorities whether tomake suchafinding
incompliance withArticle 4.1oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 16.2oftheSCM Agreement.
Review
Question (US19)
Article 15.3states thatantidumping orcountervailing duties must expire afterfiveyears
unless there isafinding thattheexpiry ofadutywould likely leadtoacontinuation orrecurrence
ofdumping orsubsidization, Article 11oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 21oftheSCM
Agreement provide thatsuchduties must expire after fiveyearabsent afinding thatsuchexpiry
would likely leadtoacontinuation orrecurrence ofdumping orsubsidization andinjury. How
doestheNotification satisfy these provisions oftheA-DAgreement andSCM Agreement?
Response
Thisprovision should beinterpreted toprovided forexpiration ofthefiveyears, unless there
isadetermination thatexpiry would leadtorecurrence ofbothdumping andsubsidization, andinjury
incompliance withArticle 11oftheA-DAgreement andArticle 21oftheSCM Agreement.
Replies toSupplementary Questions from theEuropean Community
Provisional Measures
Question
Could Thailand clarify inwhich circumstances thepreliminary examination willassess
whether thedutysufficient toremove injury islessthanthedumping margin?
Response
TheThaiRegulations provide forsuchanassessment onlyatthefinalinvestigation stage.
Atthatstage, ifaninterested party makes atimely claim andfurnishes reliable information proving
thata"lesser duty" would besufficient toeliminate theinjury, thecompetent authorities would examine
themerits oftheclaim. Theassessment willbemade onacase-by-case basis.G/ADP/Q1/THA/9
G/SCM/Q1/THA/9
Page17
Question
DoesThailand nevertheless intend togenerally impose provisional measures foraperiod
ofninemonths?
Response
Theimposition ofthemeasures tosuchanextended period isatthediscretion ofthecompetent
authorities. Theexercise ofsuchdiscretion isrelative, anddepends verymuch onthefactandmerits
ofthecaseinvolved. TheThaiRegulations inthisregard arefullyconsistent withtheWTO A-D
andSubsidy Agreements.