. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/RL/W/244 
20 November 2009 
 (09-5758) 
Negotiating Group on Rules Original:   English 
  
 
STATEMENT ON THE ANTI-DUMPING NEGOTIATIONS 
 
Communication from the Friends of Anti-dumping
 
Negotiations (FANs)  
  
The following communication, dated 18 November  2009, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegations of Brazil;  Chile;  Colombia;  Costa Rica;  Hong Kong, China;  Israel;  Japan;  
Korea, Rep. of;  Mexico;  Norway;  Singapore;  Switzerland;  Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu;  Thailand;  and Turkey.    
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1. We appreciate the Chair's continuous efforts to move forward the antidumping negotiation.   
 
2. Since the circulation of the Chair's new draft text in December 2008 (TN/RL/W/236), the 
Negotiating Group on Rules has met regularly to re view the text, including bracketed, un-bracketed 
and un-addressed issues, with sessions in February , May, June, September and October 2009.   
 
3. We have engaged ourselves together with other WTO Members in the discussion on some issues identified in brackets as well as on un-bracketed  legal language proposed in the new text.  We 
have also addressed other issues not mentioned in the text.   
 4. We recognize some progress in the current process.  The Negotiating Group on Rules has 
already covered a substantial portion of the new text at a good pace and with due regard for the 
overall balance of the antidumping text.  We should,  however, bear in mind that a number of essential 
issues, including some core issues in brackets, remain for discussion.   
 
5. In this regard, we support the chair's plan to  complete the discussion of all remaining issues 
by early next year.  Regarding the un-bracketed i ssues, we see growing convergence and consider that 
focused technical work should continue on these issues.
1  However, keeping high the overall level of 
ambition of the antidumping negotiation will depe nd on positive progress on the bracketed issues as 
well.  As for the un-addressed issues, we attach im portance to some of them as they are also an 
integral part of the overall package of the anti dumping text if WTO Members are to achieve a better 
balance.   
 
6. While we will not go into detail one by one on each important subject in this statement, 
including our top priority issues, we are committed  to honest, constructive and substantial work and 
look forward to the future discussions in the Negotiating Group on Rules.   
                                                      
1 W e  a l s o  n e e d  t o  c o n t i n u e  t o  w o r k  o n  t h e  c u r r ent process for consideration of whether differences 
between the anti-dumping and countervailing provisions of the two Agreements, i.e. the Anti-Dumping Agreement (ADA) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM), might benefit from 
a case-by-case harmonization in order to be tter prepare for the final agreement.   TN/RL/W/244 
Page 2  
 
  7. A number of reports including those from th e WTO are still cautious about a rise or potential 
rise in protectionist measures given the conti nuing impact of the unprecedented economic and 
financial crisis on the global economy.  WTO Members need to avoid the unwarranted and 
unnecessary initiation of antidumping investigations a nd the subsequent unwa rranted imposition of 
such measures.   
 
8. In this context, we reemphasize the import ance of the antidumping negotiation with a view to 
achieving strengthened disciplines in the Anti-Dumping Agreement and invite WTO Members to fully engage in the discussion.    
9. The antidumping negotiation, as part of the si ngle undertaking, is one of the essential areas 
under the Doha Development Agenda.  In order to  achieve the objective of concluding the Doha 
Round by 2010, there is a genuine need to furt her intensify the negotiation in tandem with 
developments in other areas of negotiation.  We w ill continue to devote ourselves to the negotiation in 
order to achieve strengthened and improve d disciplines as the final outcome.   
 
 
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