The Ministry of Economy found that Costa Rican Dos Pinos had dumped, but ruled out sanctions, arguing that no damage was caused to sales or local production.
The investigation process was carried out by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador, derived from the complaint filed in 2017 by the Salvadoran Cooperativa Ganadera de Sonsonate, de RL de CV against the Costa Rican Cooperativa de Productores de Leche Dos Pinos and the local distributor Comersal.
Arguing that dumping practices exist by China and are not competing on an equal basis, businessmen from the sector in Guatemala request the intervention of the authorities.
Through a statement from the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CIG), explained that in recent years, China, through its improper business practices including dumping and subsidized prices, has affected local production.
Arguing that in Guatemala, milk from other countries in the region is being traded at a lower price than that sold in the countries of origin, producers in the country announce that they will submit a complaint.
The Representatives of the Chamber of Milk Producers of Guatemala announced that the complaint they are preparing will be filed with the Ministry of Economy, through the Directorate of Foreign Trade Administration (DACE).
In El Salvador, the Ministry of Economy has started an investigation into alleged dumping practices, after Cooperativa Ganadera de Sonsonate filed a complaint against the Costa Rican company Dos Pinos.
The Ministry of Economy ordered an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the dairy products market, specifically related to sales of fluid milk, in the period between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
The Brazilian government claims that the 6,8% increase in the tax on sugar imports from the south american country is in violation of a WTO anti-dumping agreement.
The decision by the new Minister of Economy to raise the tariff on sugar imports from Brazil by 6.82%, ignoring the technical criteria that indicated an absence of dumping, is already having consequences.See: "Sugar War in Costa Rica Restarts".
A change of minister in Costa Rica will aid in increasing the cost of sugar via an import tariff hike, harming consumers and the food industry, and increasing protection for the powerful sugar lobby.
EDITORIAL
The decision taken by the new chief of the Ministry of Economy reflects a clear interest in meddling in a process that should be resolved at a technical and non-political level.The decision to declare whether or not dumping occured in a particular market and what measures should be taken in response, corresponds to the office of Trade Defense, and should be free from any possible political bias.
At the request of the Agricultural Cane League the government has extended until the end of November the investigation into alleged dumping against the sugar importer La Maquila Lama.
The as yet unresolved conflict could once again make its presence felt with the import of organic sugar on the part of the Agricultural Cane League and also the importer La Maquila Lama, who filed with the Commission to Promote Competition (COPROCOM) a complaint of alleged monopolistic practices.See: "Sugar War in Costa Rica".
The legislation includes the implementation of anti-dumping, countervailing, anti-subsidy and safeguard actions against unfair trade practices.
From a statement issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The National Assembly has passed, with 68 votes, the Special Law on Trade Remedies. This regulation was discussed within the Committee on Economy, after it was presented to the Legislative Assembly last October by the Minister of Economy and private sector representatives, who also accompanied the legislators during their studies.
The union of sugar producers may have presented inaccurate information to accuse a company for allegedly dumping of sugar from Brazil.
From a statement issued by Maquila Lama:
Maquila Lama requested the hearing after being denounced for importing sugar from Brazil
LAICA and perito must testify about the test for an alleged case of dumping
• Legal Advisor to Maquila Lama warns of severe implications of providing a document that does not have support or validity for the opening of an investigation.
The sugarcane industrial sector claims that imported sugar is coming in from Brazil at below market price rise.
From a statement issued by the Agricultural Industrial League for Sugarcane (Laica):
• LAICA requests imposition of anti-dumping rights from the MEIC due to unfair trade through sugar imports from Brazil at prices far below the home market, threatening domestic production.
In an investigation by the Ministry of Economy no evidence was found of damage to local businesses caused by steel imports from China.
It was resolved "... Not to impose anti-dumping measures on imports of galvanized steel under investigation, given that an affirmative determination of injury and causal relationship was not proven. "
After the denouncement in March 2014 by the company Ternium of dumping of iron rods and galvanized steel from China , the Ministry of Economy launched an investigation and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine that it affected other importers and prices in the local market.
Two companies in the sector have reported dumping of iron rods from China and are asking the government for temporary safeguards to be put on imports.
The companies Corporación Aceros de Guatemala (AG) and Aceros Suárez (ASSA) asked the Ministry of Finance to stop the importation of iron rods from China alleging unfair practices with prices of the material in the local market.
Small hotels can not compete with the low prices used by big international chains in the sector to attract customers.
Entrepreneurs in the tourism sector in destinations in Manuel Antonio, Quepos and Aguirre are demanding urgent action by the government to halt what they call unfair competition, which coupled with the low influx of tourists in the area and the absence of a strategy for tourist attraction, is leading small hotel companies to bankruptcy.
The manual contains information about how to detect unfair trading practices by competitors and the procedures to request an investigation.
"It is important for the productive sector, especially SMEs, to be aware of the procedure for requesting an investigation into unfair trade practices and safeguards in order to protect productive enterprise development through mechanisms that are designed to protect them," said Marvin Rodríguez, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade.
The measure adopted by the government of Guatemala is part of an investigation into dumping on imports of zinc sheets from China.
From March 17 all steel import operations from China must be reported to the Ministry of Economy using an electronic form.
"Sergio de la Torre, Minister of Economy, said that based on this information a data traceability procedure will be performed concerning the costs of importing and marketing of the sheets, both in China and Guatemala."