Non-tariff Measures
The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced on December 15 that the number of non-tariff measures against South Korea more than doubled from 65 to 134 between 2008 and 2012 and 2012 and 2016 whereas the global total number of such measures fell 3.8% from 4,836 to 4,652 during the same period.
Specifically, the number of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures against South Korea soared from five to 19. Likewise, that of anti-dumping duties increased 84.2% from 57 to 105 and that of countervailing duties increased from three to 10. 24 out of the total non-tariff measures were taken by the United States. It was followed by India (16), Australia (14), Brazil (12), Canada (eight), China (three), European Union (two) and Japan (two).
At present, the United States is imposing excessive anti-dumping and countervailing duties on products imported from South Korea based on lopsided data and without accepting data submitted by South Korean exporters. The Chinese government is looking to impose additional anti-dumping duties on polysilicon imported from South Korea in addition to those imposed two years ago.
China is one of the countries that are making the most of non-tariff measures these days in order to protect its own industries. Its non-tariff measures are expanding to cover chemical products, electric vehicle batteries, entertainment content and many more. The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry also stressed the importance of a swift response to technical barriers to trade (TBTs).
“Anti-dumping lawsuits take very much time to reach a judgment and, during that period, exporters cannot but suffer from severe damage,” the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KOcharm) explained, adding, “The South Korean government needs to come up with some countermeasures in the steel, metal and chemical industries in particular.”
The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry pointed out that technical barriers to trade (TBTs) are a part of such measures that requires a particularly prompt response. According to it, the number of TBTs against South Korea jumped from 2,511 to 6,373 between the early 2000s and the four most recent years. “Individual companies have their own limitations in dealing with such measures,” it remarked, adding, “Countermeasures should be prepared in cooperation with the government.”