Dhaka moves WTO over dumping case

In a communication to WTO last week, Bangladesh has questioned the veracity of the claims made by the complainants "" Exide Industries and Amara Raja Batteries "" and has also said the process adopted by India is not fair.

Indian officials said the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties had adopted a laid down procedure and did not deviate from it.

In January 2002, India had imposed an anti-dumping duty on maintenance free and non-maintenance free lead acid batteries imported from Bangladesh for use in automobiles, motorcycles and industries.

In December, the EU also approached WTO questioning the procedure adopted by India in levying 23 anti-dumping duties on products.

Bangladesh said India had initiated probes despite "unsubstantiated claim" by the applicants that they represented the domestic industry and did not end them though the volume of imports from Bangladesh was negligible.

It also said India did not factor in the information submitted by the Bangladesh Accumulator and Battery Manufacturers Association, which had questioned the Indian data and said Bangladesh exported 54,203 pieces during probe period. The volume, it argued, was not significant and would not affect the Indian industry.

Bangladesh has also questioned the procedure adopted in calculating the normal value, determination of export price and a comparison between the two.

"As a result of the imposition of anti-dumping duties in a manner not justified under General Agreement of Trade and Tariffs, India may likewise be acting inconsistently with its obligations.... Bangladesh considers that the benefits accruing to it directly or indirectly under the WTO Agreement are being nullified or impaired," the communication to WTO said.