Commission’s call for anti-dumping duties on cotton comes under fire

Date: 05/03/1998

By Mark Turner

EUROPEAN Commission trade experts have called for provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from 14&percent; to 33&percent; on unbleached cotton imports from six Asian and Mediterranean countries.

The recommendations, which are set to reignite the controversy that almost upset last year's Intergovernmental Conference negotiations on EU reform, will be discussed by national experts today (5 March) and are expected to be put to a vote later this month.

They have, however, already been roundly condemned by free trade groups, importers and the European textile finishing industry. They are also likely to be strongly contested by China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey.

Cees Lodiers, who represents EU finishers CRIET, claims that if duties are confirmed it will lead to price increases of 8-10&percent; on finished products and could threaten between 23,000 and 41,000 jobs.

“We are furious about the proposal,” he said. “All the arguments we put forward have been completely neglected.”

Importers' and distributors' group EuroCommerce claims the duties would reduce turnover by 10-20&percent;, cut employment by 10&percent; and would in any case not protect EU weavers as imports of bleached, dyed or printed fabrics would increase.

European cotton weavers, however, are “delighted” with the proposals.

Eurocoton secretary-general Michelle Anselme said the Commission had “put together a very high-quality dossier which confirms the credibility of what we have been saying.”