./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/ADP/6
16 May 2000
(00-1992)
Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE PERIODS
OF DATA COLLECTION FOR ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATIONS
Adopted by the Committee on 5 May 2000
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The Committee notes that although the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT
1994 refers to the period of data collection for dumping investigations when it refers to the "period of
investigation", it does not establish any specific period of investigation1, nor does it establish
guidelines for determining an appropriate period  of investigation, for the examination of either
dumping or injury.
The Committee considers that guidelines for determining what period or periods of data
collection may be appropriate for the examination of dumping and of injury would be useful.  The
Committee also recognizes, however, that such gu idelines do not preclude investigating authorities
from taking account of the particular circumstances of a given investigation in setting the periods of
data collection for both dumping and injury, to ensure that they are appropriate in each case.
In light of the foregoing considerations, th e Committee recommends that with respect to
original investigations to determine the existence of dumping and consequent injury -
1. As a general rule:
(a) the period of data collection for dumping investigations normally should be twelve
months, and in any case no less than six months,1 ending as close to the date of
initiation as is practicable;
(b) the period of data collection for investigating sales below cost1, and the period of data
collection for dumping investigations, normally should coincide in a particular
investigation;
(c) the period of data collection for injury investigations normally should be at least three
years, unless a party from whom data is being gathered has existed for a lesser period,
and should include the entirety of the period of data collection for the dumping
investigation;
(d) In all cases the investigating authorities should set and make known in advance to
interested parties the periods of time covered by the data collection, and may also set
dates certain for completing collection and/or submission of data.  If such dates are
set, they should be made known to interested parties.
                                                     
1 Footnote 4 of the Agreement does provide that, for purposes of determining whether sales below cost
may be treated as not being in the ordinary course of trade, the "extended period of time" within which suchsales are made "should normally be one year but shall in no case be less than six months".G/ADP/6
Page 2
2. In establishing the specific periods of data collection in a particular investigation,
investigating authorities may, if possible, consider practices of firms from which data will be sought
concerning financial reporting and the effect this may have on the availability of accounting data.
Other factors that may be considered include the characteristics of the product in question, including
seasonality and cyclicality, and the existence of special order or customized sales.
3. In order to increase transparency of proceedings, investigating authorities should include in
public notices or in the separate reports provided pursuant to Article 12.2 of the Agreement, an
explanation of the reason for the selection of a particular period for data collection if it differs from
that provided for in:  paragraph 1 of this recommendation, national legislation, regulation, or
established national guidelines.
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