The Australian Customs Service will continue its 100-day review system for anti-dumping duties on PVC imports, following limited response to its proposal to automatically adjust duties in line with world vinyl chloride monomer prices. The ACS in Canberra called for submissions on the proposal after an increase in anti-dumping duties on PVC imports from North America, Brazil, China, France, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Thailand was outdated, only three days after being issued, because of a sudden decrease in world VCM prices.
The subsequent 100-day re-view, effective from Feb. 21, has significantly lowered anti-dumping duties on PVC imports.
One option put forward by the ACS to overcome fluctuating VCM prices is to link anti-dumping duties to a world VCM price reference, which would allow for period adjustment without a full review.
Anne Robbie, assistant director, ACS dumping operations, said submissions to the proposal were limited, both in number and detail, so the current 100-day review system will continue.
But she said the proposal is not completely ``closed off'' and the ACS is keen to receive further submissions from interested parties.
The only overseas submissions were from two Canadian PVC exporters that both opposed automatic adjustments to dumping measures.
Five submissions were received from Australian PVC importers and manufacturers, with three supporting and two opposing the proposal.
North American exporters can comment on the review proposal by writing to the Senior Australian Customs Representa-tive, Australian Embassy, 1601 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Wash-ington, D.C. 20036.