Image Credits - The Economic Times
Malaysia has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of polyethene terephthalate (PET) from China and Indonesia, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) announced on Friday. The investigation was triggered by a petition submitted by a domestic producer on July 10, alleging that PET imports from these countries were being sold at significantly lower prices than their domestic market rates.
According to the ministry, the petitioner claimed that the influx of underpriced PET from China and Indonesia has surged in quantity, leading to substantial harm to the local industry. The investigation seeks to establish whether these imports have significantly harmed the Malaysian PET industry.
MITI stated that a preliminary finding will be made within 120 days from the start of the probe. However, the exact start date of the investigation was not disclosed. MITI stated that if the preliminary findings are positive, the government will impose a provisional anti-dumping duty at a rate sufficient to prevent further harm to the domestic industry.
This investigation is part of Malaysia’s broader efforts to protect its domestic industries from unfair trade practices. PET, a key material used in packaging, is an essential component for various industries in Malaysia. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for both local manufacturers and importers.
In a separate development, MITI also announced an administrative review of anti-dumping duties on imports of stranded steel wires for pre-stressing concrete originating or exported from China. These duties, which range from 2.09% to 21.72%, were initially imposed in December 2021 and are effective for five years. The review was prompted by a domestic producer’s request, claiming that the dumping margin of these imports had changed significantly, as per local anti-dumping regulations. The review will reassess the existing duties to determine if adjustments are necessary to protect the domestic industry.